Kieswetter continues form with second hundred

Somerset 219 for 2 beat Gloucestershire 213 by eight wickets
Scorecard

Craig Kieswetter hit his second CB40 century of the season as Somerset made it maximum points from their first four games with an eight-wicket win over Gloucestershire at Taunton. The Gladiators were bowled out for 213 after losing the toss, Alex Gidman top-scoring with 66 and Kane Williamson making 47. Lewis Gregory returned a career-best 4 for 27.

Somerset were never tested as Kieswetter and Marcus Trescothick (50) put on 96 for the first wicket in 14 overs. Kieswetter went on to make 108 not out, facing 102 balls and hitting nine fours and four sixes, and has now scored 308 runs in four CB40 innings this season. The hosts reached their target with a massive six overs to spare and look set to be a formidable force, having finished runners-up last year.

Trescothick hit six fours in his 51-ball innings and looked to be finding it almost too easy when he was out lbw, carelessly sweeping a straight ball from Richard Dawson. Peter Trego also gave away his wicket with a loose shot but Nick Compton eased his way to 36 not out in an unbroken stand of 84 with Kieswetter that settled any doubts about the outcome.

Kieswetter was dropped on 39 and 85, but went on to reach his hundred before hitting the winning runs with his fourth six.

Gloucestershire's total had been based on a second-wicket stand of 117 in 24 overs between Alex Gidman and Williamson after Ian Cockbain had fallen lbw to Steve Kirby for 10 with the total on 18. The pair were largely content to push ones and twos while maintaining a scoring rate of five an over. Gidman reached his half-century off 66 balls, with four fours.

Williamson had faced 68 deliveries when caught behind off Adam Dibble. Dawson then crashed three successive boundaries off the young seamer before skying a catch to Kirby at mid-on and departing for 23, made off just nine balls.

Chris Taylor and Ed Young fell for ducks, the latter the victim of a brilliant boundary catch two-handed above his head by Trego to give Dibble a third wicket. Gregory was immensely impressive bowling at the death, cleaning up Will Gidman, Jack Taylor and David Payne with yorkers, while having James Fuller caught behind.