Trescothick hits third ton of season in easy victory

England opener Marcus Trescothick gave Somerset's hopes of reaching the Benson & Hedges Cup quarter-finals a hefty boost, hitting an unbeaten 109 to earn his side a crushing eight-wicket victory over Northamptonshire at Wantage Road.

Trescothick completed his second century in the competition this season, and his third in all cricket, as the visitors eclipsed Northants' modest 219-6 with more than ten overs to spare. He stroked 15 fours in a polished and fluent 117-ball knock, and posted 145 for the second wicket with skipper Jamie Cox (72).

Northants hit early trouble at 94-5 after David Ripley won the toss and chose to bat on another easy-paced Northampton pitch. Jason Kerr undermined their top order by running out Jeff Cook with a rasping throw from long leg and then dismissing Russell Warren and Graeme Swann with successive deliveries.

Tony Penberthy (58) and Alec Swann (54 not out) revived the Northants cause with a plucky sixth-wicket stand worth 86 in 20 overs - a county record for the competition. But Somerset were always in command once Trescothick announced his intentions by cracking Darren Cousins for three boundaries in the paceman's first two overs.

Cousins removed Mark Lathwell cheaply, only for Trescothick and Cox to settle the issue with some aggressive strokeplay against a home attack missing the injured Graeme Swann - off the field nursing a shoulder problem.

Cox's demise near the end did not remotely threaten to affect the outcome, and Trescothick inevitably picked up the Gold Award for another high-quality performance.