Cidermen bat impressively before the rain sets in

Somerset continued their build-up to the new season with an impressive batting display to score 365 from their 50 overs against a strong Hampshire side at the County Ground today before the rain set in mid afternoon to prevent the visitors commencing their innings, and the game was abandoned.

Somerset got off to a solid start with an opening partnership of 91 in 19 overs between Peter Bowler (43), who was playing his first innings on grass this season, and Matt Wood, who made an impressive 76.

Rob Turner, who was also playing his first match of the season, came in first wicket down and contributed a well struck 44, but the real fireworks of the innings came from Mike Burns and Ian Blackwell.

Burns made 104 from 58 balls, including seven sixes and nine fours, and Blackwell made 62, which included four sixes and eight fours, and raced to his half century off just 17 balls.

After the end of play Somerset assistant coach Mark Garaway told me: "It was a very pleasing day for us, and good that we had the chance to bat before it rained. I was very pleased with the way everyone batted, but especially Peter Bowler and Rob Turner who were having their first bat out in the middle today.

"It was also pleasing that we scored the runs the way that we did against Hampshire, who have a first class bowling attack, Mike Burns and Ian Blackwell were so powerful when they batted. All the signs are looking good for our first match next week."