Gazzard leads the way

Carl Gazzard completed the win for Somerset with two massive sixes © Getty Images

Somerset defeated the United Arab Emirates in the Pro Arabian Cricket Challenge on the day they learned Marcus Trescothick’s sole focus will now be on the county scene.

Trescothick, initially due to be in Abu Dhabi before pulling out of the pre-season tournament, will concentrate on Somerset after officially retiring from international cricket.

Carl Gazzard, opening in Trescothick’s absence, took his aggregate to 117 runs in two matches here with an unbeaten 59, finishing the contest in the 32nd over with consecutive sixes.

James Hildreth, who hopes to follow Trescothick onto the world stage, hit a cameo 29 in the six-wicket success.

The England Lions batsman followed up his 98 not out in the Sabres’ successful chase of 279 to beat Essex on Tuesday with another eyecatching innings at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium.

But having dominated a stand of 42 for the third wicket with Gazzard, he tamely clipped spinner Saqib Ali to midwicket.

The UAE, who ran Essex close earlier in the Pro ARCH campaign, slumped to 32 for four after winning the toss and it took 67 from veteran Khurram Khan to provide respectability.

Left-hander Khan, 36, was last man out, one of three victims for seamer Mark Turner, having struck two sixes and seven fours.

Stand-in Somerset captain Steffan Jones and leg-spinner Michael Munday claimed two wickets apiece for the LV County Championship Division One new boys.