Magnificent Marcus secures an emphatic victory for Somerset in Scotland

Scotland felt the full force of Marcus Trescothick's bat as the England opener helped himself to a magnificent unbeaten century as Somerset romped to a ten wicket victory at Grange Cricket Club in Edinburgh in the first round of the 2003 Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy.

Trescothick received a standing ovation from the crowd as he left the field after an exhibition of batting that won him the Man of the Match Award,after hitting the winning runs and bringing up his own century from just 70 balls that included 5 x6's and 13x4's.

With bad weather threatening Trescothick and Jamie Cox (39 not out) made light work of their target of 139 which they reached with more than thirty overs to spare, to set up an attractive fourth round tie against Surrey at Taunton at the end of the month.

At the start of the day the Scotland total relied largely upon a painstaking 51 from opener Douglas Lockhart who batted through until the thirty eighth over before he eventually fell caught by Rob Turner off Mike Burns, and an unbeaten 45 from Craig Wright.

Although Andy Caddick was missing because of a foot injury the home batsmen struggled against the Somerset seam attack on a slow wicket, and after an hour's play had managed just 41 runs from seventeen overs.

Both Nixon McLean and Richard Johnson beat the bat on numerous occasions, but it was the West Indian test bowler who got the first blood for the Cidermen when Dominic Rigby gave a straight forward catch to Keith Parson at short square leg.

Neil MacRae and Lockhart added 30 for the second wicket, with MacRae bringing a cheer from the home crowd with a six off McLean before he was trapped LBW by Simon Francis in the fifteenth over.

Parsons, who replaced Johnson at the Inverleith Park End then accounted for the middle order when he took the three wickets during his ten over spell, that reduced Scotland to 69 for 5.

Wright and Lockhart then took the hosts to 99 before Burns came onto bowl to deprive Lockhart the pleasure of bringing up the hundred for his side.

The Scots innings slipped to 105 for 9, before an unbeaten last wicket partnership between Wright and Paul Hoffman who added 33 in the final seven overs, to give the Cidermen a total of 139 to chase.

For Somerset Parsons ended with 3 for 29, Mike Burns 2 for 13 whilst there was one wicket a piece for McLean, Johnson and Ian Blackwell.

At the end of the day Somerset skipper Mike Burns said: "This was a very professional performance here today. Our fielding and bowling were excellent and then to see the `big fella' getting runs like that was just what we wanted. This was an excellent start to our C and G campaign and long may it continue."

Marcus Trescothick said: "We have done the job we needed to do. After not winning a one day match so far this season we have now found our form. It felt good out there today and everything hit the middle of the bat for me."

Coach Kevin Shine said: "This was a thoroughly executed professional performance in what could have been a difficult fixture for us. We gave a good bowling and fielding display and then Marcus batted brilliantly, well supported by Jamie Cox."