Trescothick triumph with bat and ball

Somerset slammed 295-7, the highest score in the National League this summer to date, at Maidstone as they took out their frustration on Kent for having pulled away from defeat after following in the corresponding championship match which ended yesterday. Their win by 54 runs took them to six points behind Division One leaders Worcestershire.

Marcus Trescothick, who must in line for an England place sooner rather than later and was let off early in his innings, led the assault with 71 runs from 50 deliveries (11 four and one six): his first-wicket partnership with Jamie Cox (51) brought 114 runs in 16 overs, but Kent launched a spirited reply only to lose two wickets in the same over.

Kent's young bowlers suffered a pasting before spinner Min Patel put a break on the scoring with two wickets. With Keith Parsons (49 n.o.) and Ian Blackweel (30) going strong Somerset seemed likely at one stage to score many more.

The home county started badly with the early loss of openers David Fulton and Rahul Dravid. Experienced Mark Ealham and Alan Wells (59) weathered the storm and began to make headway taking the score to 148-4 when the latter was out. Captain Matthew Fleming and Matthew Walker seized the initiative to such extent that Kent had the advantage according to the Ducksorth-Lewis as a persistent drizzle started to fall.

Both were out in the same over to Blackwell (3-30) however leaving such calculations academic. Trescothick took 3-45 in an encouraging performance with both bat and ball.