Vitality Blast - South Group

Somerset 194-4 beat Gloucestershire 188-6 by 6 wkts

PETER Trego fired an unbeaten 72 from just 41 balls as Somerset defeated Gloucestershire by six wickets in Taunton to get their T20 campaign off to the perfect start.

Steve Davies (60), James Hildreth (25) and Corey Anderson (24) also looked in good touch with the bat as the hosts made light work of a Gloucestershire total which was boosted by 20 runs from the final over.

Having won the toss and chosen to bowl, Somerset captain Lewis Gregory rotated his bowlers at will and to good effect, with the spinners particularly effective in slowing the run rate.

Roelof van der Merwe didn't concede a single boundary in his 0-22 from four overs, while Max Waller, as is his custom, bowled tightly at the pads and ended with 0-31.

Gloucestershire's innings never truly got going, with dangerman Michael Klinger falling to Trego's first ball at the start of the ninth over to leave his side 69-3.

Ryan Higgins and Jack Taylor led a spirited recovery through the middle overs, the latter falling for a 24-ball 34 when he picked out Roelof van de Merwe at long-off to provide Gregory (2-37) with his second wicket.

Higgins went on the charge at the death against Jamie Overton, making good use of the pace on offer as he reached a 33-ball half-century before a fine catch by Tom Abell running in from long-on ended his innings on 55.

Somerset would have been pleased to restrict their visitors to 188-6 but they lost an early wicket in reply, Johann Myburgh (4) picking out Higgins at square-leg with the score on 24.

Steve Davies was batting fluently at the other end and played some sumptuous drives on his way to a half-century which took him just 21 balls, while Trego was straight into the groove.

Though perhaps not as easy on the eye as Davies, Trego's brute force ensured the boundaries continued at will and James Hildreth picked up the baton once Davies had fallen for 60.

A reverse-swept six was the highlight of Hildreth's 25 as he and Trego took the score to 143 when the former was clean bowled having a heave at Thisara Perera.

Corey Anderson's quickfire 24, including three fours and a six, took Somerset to within touching distance before Trego cleared the ropes twice to end the match in style.

Somerset crossed the line with 19 balls to spare to pick up their first win in this fixture since 2014, and they are back in action on Sunday when Kent are the visitors (2.30pm).

Afterwards, Trego said: "It's a great way to start. Going into it you're never quite sure where your game is so to come out and win like that is really pleasing.

"Steve Davies, James Hildreth and Corey Anderson were all striking the ball really nicely, which bodes well. With the ball, we have seven options and it was great to see Jamie Overton bounce back in that final over.

"We know we will be hit for fours and sixes so it is about how you respond to that, and to pick up that wicket and bowl the dot ball at the end was important and could have made all the difference on another day.

"Kent are a strong side but so are we."