SOMERSET were well beaten by Division One newcomers Sussex who ran out winners by 260 runs at Hove.

This was the home team’s first victory in the top division of cricket’s blue riband event since 2015. Following their frustrating draw in the season’s opener against Worcestershire at Taunton the Cidermen were looking to chalk up their first win of the campaign - sadly that was not to be the case. This performance down was bitterly disappointing to Somerset followers to say the least, and they’d expected so much more.

After winning the toss and opting to bat Sussex found themselves 270/7 before two late wicket partnerships saw them reach 294 all out. With Craig Overton being rested and Matt Henry not arrived because of injury Lewis Gregory with 4 /90 led the attack while Kasey Aldridge and Migael Pretorius claimed two apiece.

When Somerset batted the top order failed and they found themselves 79/7 in the 24th over when James Rew was joined by skipper Gregory. The eighth wicket pair added 110 in 20 overs before Gregory perished for 36 off 60 balls. Rew remained steadfast until he ran out of partners and Somerset were dismissed for 201, by which time he was unbeaten on 80 from 83 balls.

Batting for a second time on a wicket that ‘was flattening out’ Sussex amassed 501 /7 before they declared, Jack Leach claiming 4/167 from 45 overs and Archie Vaughan 2/116 off 40.

Chasing an improbable total of 595 for victory Somerset’s top order again failed to deliver and they slipped to 152/6 from which there was no way back. Despite some rearguard batting from Tom Abell who made a patient 96 from 172 balls, 56 from Gregory off 140 balls, 59 from Pretorius and an unbeaten 24 from Leach, Somerset were all out for 334.