Somerset's road to Lord's in 2002 has been anything but easy and at times it has seemed that the fates have conspired against them returning to the headquarters of the summer game to defend the trophy they won last season.

However despite all of the setbacks and their disappointing form in the both the Benson and Hedges and the NUL National League in each round of the Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy they have found their form to record some truly memorable performances.

The Cidermen were at home in each of the latter rounds but on the one occasion they were away they travelled to Scarborough in the fourth round of the competition to face the Yorkshire Board XI without a solitary limited over victory to their name from the season. The pressure was on the players to deliver the goods, and when the chips were down they produced a thoroughly professional performance to dispose of the part timers.

Batting first Somerset scored 255 for 7 thanks largely to veteran batsman Peter Bowler who scored 104, well supported by Jamie Cox who contributed 64 and who shared a second wicket partnership of 159 with Bowler. When the Yorkshire Board batted they slumped to 9 for 3 before recovering but could only reach 168 for 8 in their allotted overs.

In the next round it was Hampshire who provided the opposition, and this match belonged to Marcus Trescothick who was making his first one day appearance of the season for the county. Responding to a Hampshire total of 262, the England man made batting look easy, as he first put on 130 with Peter Bowler and then continued at the crease until he was in sight of the target before departing for a Man of the Match winning 133.

The quarter final round of the trophy brought high flying Worcestershire to Taunton. The sides had already met on three occasions earlier in the season before the C and G tie, and in each game it was the Black Pear county who had won comfortably, but on this occasion they hadn't bargained for the brilliance of Keith Parsons, who was awarded the Man of the Match medal for his match winning innings of 121 and the two invaluable wickets that he had took.

Already deprived of their main strike bowlers through injury, Somerset hopes were further dented when their skipper Trescothick left the field early in the morning with a broken thumb. Far from dampening spirits his departure from the scene seemed to bring out a strength of character in the team that enabled them to pull together and win the tie against much fancied opposition.

Worcestershire set off at a rate of knots and looked to be set for well over 300, but once Parsons had disposed of Graeme Hick some tight bowling brought them back and eventually they had to settle for 271.

In reply the Cidermen had slipped to 36 for 2 before Parsons once again stepped into the breech. Ably supported by Rob Turner (47) and Blackwell one of Taunton's favourite son's produced his one day career best (121) to see his team home to a prize semi final tie against Kent.

Batting first against the White Horse county in front of a packed house at Taunton, Somerset posted a formidable 344, of which Ian Blackwell had contributed a hard hit 86, Mike Burns 72 and Peter Bowler 70. In reply Kent also got off to a flying start, and despite being reined back by some timely wickets by Parsons they had reached 336 for 6 and seemed to be cruising their way to Lord's.

What Kent hadn't reckoned on were two pieces of fielding that led to run outs and changed the game. The first from Keith Dutch led to the demise of Paul Nixon, but it was the amazing throw down of the stumps whilst he was on the ground by Simon Francis to dismiss James Hockley that was really the turning point of the game.

Matt Bulbeck took a wicket with the last ball of his over and then Steffan Jones tempted Mark Ealham to give a catch to Keith Dutch at mid wicket. Kent were all out for 339 and Somerset had rescued a victory from almost certain defeat.

The crowds invaded the pitch, Ian Blackwell was named as Man of the Match, and Kevin Shine described the run out by Simon Francis, who was only fielding as a replacement for Richard Johnson as the `Champagne Moment' of the tie.

Since the semi final Somerset have not enjoyed the best of fortune in their quest to avoid relegation in the NUL National League, but somehow all of that seems to pale into insignificance when they play in the Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy.

Having won the thrilling finale against Kent at the start of the month, the Cidermen will be back there at Lord's tomorrow even more determined to hang onto that coveted trophy to reward their loyal supporters and give them something more to cheer about.

© SOMERSET