Trescothick spurs Somerset on

Marcus Trescothick's rapid 52 set Somerset on their way to a three-wicket win © Getty Images

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Marcus Trescothick hit a brisk half-century as Somerset dented Surrey's Friends Provident Trophy hopes with a three-wicket win at Bath.

The home side made hard work of a victory target of 215, but Trescothick struck nine fours in his 52 and, after a few wobbles, James Hildreth clinched victory with an unbeaten 49. Chris Schofield claimed 3-40 for the visitors.

Surrey had been pegged back after a bright start by left-arm seamer Charl Willoughby, who took 3-22 in 10 overs.

Jon Batty top-scored with 50, while opener Ali Brown smacked 32 off 21 balls, but a total of 214 for nine did not look likely to be enough on the small Festival ground.

And so it proved as Cameron White (31) helped Hildreth bolster the Somerset innings following Trescothick's powerful early assault.

Somerset captain Justin Langer won the toss and decided to give Surrey first use of a pitch which proved helpful to all types of bowling.

Brown and Scott Newman added 45 in seven overs but departed in quick succession and Surrey struggled from thereafter against some tight Somerset bowling.

The scoreboard read 75 for four as Mark Ramprakash and Rikki Clarke fell cheaply, but youngster Rory Hamilton-Brown helped add 37 for the fifth wicket with Batty before Azhar Mahmood contributed a rapid 25.

Batty could take no risks as wickets fell around him, striking only three fours in his 87-ball knock.

Willoughby's shining example in line and length was followed by Steffan Jones, Mark Turner and Ian Blackwell, who all went for around four an over, Turner finishing with 2-40 from nine overs.

Trescothick looked set to make short work of the target when Somerset replied, dominating an opening stand of 54 with Peter Trego, who made just eight.

It came as a real surprise when Trescothick was caught behind off a rare loose stroke, but by then Somerset were 74 for two and well on their way.

Langer holed out to deep mid-wicket before White and Hildreth took the score to 144, but White was lbw, attempting to sweep Schofield, and some panic set in to the home ranks.

Blackwell lofted Schofield straight to Newman at deep mid-wicket and Keith Parsons chopped Mahmood on to his stumps.

Somerset fans in a 3,500 crowd were getting distinctly uneasy when Craig Kieswetter, who made a brisk 18, was bowled by Schofield to make it 190 for seven.

But Hildreth played with great maturity in his 77-ball innings and found a reliable partner in Jones, who hit four fours in making 21 not out at a run a ball.

It was only Surrey's second defeat in the competition, but both teams now face key final fixtures in a tightly packed top of the South Conference.