Somerset beat Nottinghamshire by 4 wickets

The National League First Division campaign may still be in its infancy, but already it looks set to hold contrasting fortunes for newly-promoted Somerset and Northants.

A four-wicket victory with 17-balls to spare at Taunton made it maximum points from their first two fixtures for the Sabres and had vice-captain Marcus Trescothick enthusing: "We don't fear anyone in this format."

That sort of confidence can only be envied by Steelbacks skipper Matthew Hayden, who promised a close review of strategy and personnel after his side's third defeat in as many games.

"I don't think we're playing that badly, but the results speak for themselves and we need to take a good look at what is going wrong," admitted the Australian. "We have a strong squad of players and it may be that we have to make one or two changes."

Hayden was happy enough with his team's batting as they posted the highest score in the competition this season when bowled out for 240 with just two balls of their allotted 45 overs to go.

It looked a reasonable effort in cloudy, blustery conditions that had a sizeable crowd huddled up against the biting wind.

Hayden himself led a recovery from 27-2, hitting an effortless 47 before carelessly directing a short ball from Paul Jarvis straight to opposing skipper and fellow Aussie Jamie Cox at mid-wicket.

The dismissal left Northants 115-5 in the 24th over, but led to the brightest batting of their innings as Graeme Swann and David Ripley added 88 for the sixth wicket in 14 overs.

Swann was the more aggressive, collecting 9 fours in a chirpy innings of 57, compiled off only 40 balls. By the time he was bowled off his pads by Trescothick the total was 203 and the Steelbacks were assured of a respectable total.

Ripley followed soon afterwards, caught and bowled off a leading edge by left-arm spinner Ian Blackwell, who is proving a shrewd winter recruit by Somerset from Derbyshire.

But 240, with the weather still overcast, looked an imposing score, particularly when Somerset lost Cox in only the second over.

Piran Holloway was run-out by some sharp work from Hayden at short cover, but Trescothick timed the ball impressively from the start and was soon leading a counter-attack.

The England A batsman took 14 off an over from Devon Malcolm, hooking the former England pace bowler for six and clipping two more imperious fours off his legs.

A fine catch above his head by Darren Cousins accounted for Mike Burns, while Mark Lathwell, out injured for the whole of last season and still seeking form, fell lbw to Kevin Innes pushing forward.

When Trescothick was snapped up by Hayden at mid-wicket attempting to bludgeon the first ball sent down by slow left-armer Michael Davies, Somerset were 119-5 and in trouble.

The game appeared well balanced when Cousins accounted for wicketkeeper Rob Turner with the total 158, but it proved to be Northants' last success.

Keith Parsons picked the gaps intelligently to reach an unbeaten half-century, receiving excellent support from Blackwell, who began watchfully, but then cut loose, dispatching Swann over long-on for six in contributing 48 not out.

Somerset needed 74 off the last 12 overs. But such was the dominance of their seventh-wicket pair that the target always looked attainable. By the end the unbroken stand was worth 85, with Parsons on 54 to follow the 66 he made in the opening victory over Gloucestershire.