Somerset victorious in their fifty over match at the Hampshire Rosebowl

Somerset completed their three days of competitive preparations at the Hampshire Rosebowl when they defeated the hosts by four wickets in a one day match today.

Batting first Hampshire scored 272 for 8 from their fifty overs, with Robin Smith top scoring with 69. Somerset's opening attack looked impressive, with Nixon McLean beating the bat on several occasions without success, conceding 27 runs from his 6 over spell.

Keith Dutch was the most successful wicket taker for the visitors ending with 4 for 45 from his 5 overs.

In reply, Somerset lost opener Peter Bowler with the score on 19, which bought two of the new signings together as James Bryant joined Aaron Laraman. Together the pair brought up the hundred and took the score onto 118 before their partnership that was worth 99 was ended. Bryant was dismissed for 33 whilst Laraman was in impressive form scoring 73 from just 58 balls in a knock that contained 2 x 6's and 11 x 4's.

From this point the Cidermen stumbled to 153 for 6 before who came in at number seven and eight respectively, Dutch and Matt Wood coming saw their side home to victory with more than five overs to spare.

By the time the winning run was scored Dutch had moved on to 72, which came from 58 balls and contained 1 x 6 and 12 x 4's and Wood was unbeaten on 51, which included 1 x 6 and 5 x 4's.

At the end of the day Somerset coach Kevin Shine told me: "It was a good win for us today but there are still things that we have to work on. Aaron Laraman batted really well out there, before Keith Ducth and Matt Wood won us the game."

Reflecting over the last few days he said: "As a 3 day exercise our visit to jampshire has been excellent preparation for the season, but even though we have won today there are still some issues that we need to address."

The Somerset season gets underway on Saturday when they entertain Loughborough University at the County Ground in Taunton in a 3 day match.