Somerset v Kent, National League Div 1

Marcus Trescothick is looking increasingly like a genuine candidate for England's one-day side later this summer.

The 24-year-old Somerset left-hander underlined his immense potential with a brilliant 92 not out as the National League leaders made it maximum points from four games with a nine-wicket thrashing of Kent at Taunton.

Trescothick has already been invited to join the England squad for experience twice this summer following his A tour selection in the winter and clearly rates highly with coach Duncan Fletcher.

He showed why with a devastating display of clean hitting that enabled Somerset to race to their victory target of 180 with 9.5 overs to spare.

An opening stand of 145 with skipper Jamie Cox offered a feast of batting. Cox drove the ball ferociously throughout his 83-ball innings, making 62, including 7 fours and 2 sixes.

But even the Australian's elegant strokeplay paled in comparison with his partner as Trescothick timed the ball sweetly from the start and became murderous as his innings progressed.

He scored his unbeaten 92 off 109 deliveries, savagely pulling Matthew Fleming over mid-wicket for six and featuring a dozen other meaty boundaries in a powerful display.

By the time Cox was out in the 29th over, caught by Matthew Walker at cover off another fizzing drive, Kent were already resigned to defeat.

All bowlers were coming alike to Trescothick and Piran Holloway needed only to hold up an end as the victory charge reached an inevitable climax.

Kent's batting had let them down after Cox had won the toss and elected to field. Andy Caddick was predictably hostile in bowling his nine overs straight through at the start, sending back Robert Key and Rahul Dravid, in an excellent spell of 2-15.

But other wickets were tossed away. Alan Wells and Mark Ealham were stumped off leg-side wides, both victims of brilliant work by Rob Turner, standing up to the medium-pacers.

Skipper Fleming marched out at 84-6 and soon saw that score worsen to 112-8. But he then launched an impressive counter-attack, finding a resolute partner in David Masters.

Together the pair added 66 for the ninth wicket, with Fleming flourishing after a watchful start to blast 63, off 69 balls, with 7 fours and 2 sixes.

The 44th over of the innings, sent down by Trescothick, cost 21 runs. A no-ball beamer was flicked for four by Fleming, plus the extra two runs, and the following free-hit was deposited over the mid-wicket boundary for six.

Trescothick's bowling figures were transformed from 2-21 off seven overs to 2-42 off eight. Presumably, he spent the tea interval contemplating revenge.

There was one oddity in the Kent innings when Wells, on one, was adjudged run-out by umpire Allan Jones after Trescothick had thrown the stumps down from second slip with the batsman out of his ground.

Wells was clearly unhappy with the decision, which was rescinded when it was realised the ball had reached Trescothick via wicketkeeper Turner and was therefore deemed to be dead when the throw was made.