Marcus Trescothick returned to one day action in some considerable style at the County Ground, Taunton today, as Somerset recaptured their one day form to defeat Hampshire with overs to spare...

Chasing a Hampshire total of 262, captain Marcus led from the front by making an impressive 133 to help the home side cruise to a six wicket victory.

By the time that the England man and his opening partner Peter Bowler had rattled up 61 off the first ten overs the game was almost won, such was the domination of the Somerset batsmen over the Hampshire attack.

Marcus stayed at the wicket until victory was in sight, sharing in an opening stand of 130 with Peter Bowler(41), before being caught at the wicket off Alan Mullally, who himself had dropped Trescothick just a few overs earlier.

Earlier in the day Hampshire had looked set to post a formidable total themselves after Derek Kenway (30) and Neil Johnson (52) had put on 54 in the first ten overs, but were reined back by some tight bowling from Richard Johnson, who ended with 2 for 42, and a good fielding performance.

Despite a quietly efficient display of batting from John Crawley who made 113, Hampshire failed to achieve their early promise, and set a total that was at least 40 runs short of what might have been a more challenging total for Somerset to chase.

In the end it was left to Ian Blackwell (34) and Keith Parsons (21) to see Somerset home to a deserved victory at just after 5.45 pm with more that four overs to spare, and a lucrative home tie against Worcestershire in the quarter finals of the Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy next month.

Hampshire's Director of Cricket Tim Tremlett admitted that their innings had lost its way after a good start, they were a good 40-50 runs short of what we would have hoped for. John Crawley batted magnificently, but his partners failed to support well enough.

© Hampshire Cricket