Somerset Sabres v Sussex Sharks

Marcus Trescothick chose home soil to show why he is on the verge of a breakthrough into international cricket at the age of 24. Somerset's maturing vice-captain hit a superb 72 on a sluggish Bath Festival pitch to help his side make it maximum points from their opening three National League First Division fixtures.

And, just for good measure, Trescothick added the priceless wicket of danger-man Michael Bevan with his occasional medium-paced bowling as the Sabres got home by 16 runs, having been dismissed for 197 after losing the toss.

A product of nearby Keynsham Cricket Club, the powerful left-hander looks increasingly capable of earning an England cap this season, in limited overs cricket if not the Tests.

He was called up to act as 12th man for the first three days of the current Test against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge, having already taken part in a pre-season England get-together under coach Duncan Fletcher.

Here Trescothick was forced to curb his normal attacking instincts, partly through the necessity of adjusting to the slow pace of the Recreation Ground track and also because of the early departures of Jamie Cox and Piran Holloway.

At 24-2 Somerset needed stability and found it in the steady third-wicket stand of 79, compiled with Peter Bowler, who had been called into the one-day side for just such an eventuality.

He contributed a solid 35, allowing Trescothick to emerge from a watchful start and take full toll of left-arm spinner Umer Rashid.

Suddenly, two savage leg side shots off successive balls deposited Rashid for sixes in the 24th over, a feat the repeated later in the spinner's spell when the opener again hoisted consecutive deliveries over the mid-wicket boundary.

The 52 runs conceded in six overs by Rashid proved very costly to Sussex on a day when the medium-pacers on both sides were difficult to force away.

Trescothick had scored his 72 off 84 balls when lucklessly run-out backing-up, as a drive from Mike Burns was deflected onto the stumps by bowler Mark Robinson.

James Kirtley helped wrap up the Somerset innings, taking 2-28 from his nine overs. But home skipper Cox was satisfied that 197 was defendable on such a lifeless surface.

So it proved as Sussex lost openers Richard Montgomerie and Rashid to a nagging spell from Graham Rose, who bowled his nine overs straight through for miserly figures of 2-18.

But the visitors appeared to sacrifice a winning position after Bevan and skipper Chris Adams had carefully put together a third wicket stand of 88, using all their one-day experience.

Just as the pair seemed to have done the hard work and runs were beginning to flow, Adams aimed to hit Keith Parsons out of the ground and was bowled for 33. The later batsmen found it hard to score quickly without the benefit of playing themselves in and it was clear Sussex hopes rested with Bevan, who was picking gaps in the field with his customary precision.

Having made 69 off 101 deliveries, the Australian opened his shoulders against Trescothick and skied the ball to mid-on. Rose had a lot of ground to cover running in from long-on, but clung onto a match-winning catch.

A brief flurry from Robin Martin-Jenkins proved to no avail and Steffan Jones ended any lingering doubt about the outcome by bowling a near perfect line and length at the end.

The win was sweet revenge for Somerset, pipped for the National League Second Division title by Sussex last season.

Even without Andy Caddick, the Sabres look a confident, well-drilled outfit capable of building on their good start and making a concerted challenge for the First Division crown this time.