Lofty perch for Somerset

Marcus Trescothick and James Hildreth celebrate Somerset's easy victory

Somerset went top of the LV County Championship Division One table for the first time as they wrapped up an eight-wicket victory over Surrey just after lunch at Whitgift School.

It was Surrey’s first defeat of the campaign, while Somerset remain undefeated after dominating the majority of the match.

Surrey started the day 52 runs ahead with three wickets in hand, and their only realistic chance of a result was if they ground out a draw.

But in the fifth over of the morning they were eight down, Saqlain Mushtaq (12) top-edging an attempted sweep from Ian Blackwell into the gloves of Somerset wicketkeeper Craig Kieswetter.

Surrey managed another 20 runs before the new ball was taken in the 14th over, and Charl Willoughby took full advantage in his next two overs to see off the Surrey tail.

The left-armer bowled Jade Dernbach for 12 to make it 219 for nine before claiming the wicket of Pedro Collins for five in his next over, Marcus Trescothick making a well-judged catch at deep cover to leave Somerset needing 108 to win with 77 overs remaining in the day.

Surrey signalled their intention to try to bowl Somerset out by opening the attack with Mushtaq, and the decision paid early dividends as he dismissed Neil Edwards for only five in his second over.

Justin Langer sweeps in his quickfire 46

Edwards offered no stroke and was caught out by a terrific delivery that stayed straight and was dismissed leg before.

That was as good as it got for Surrey though, as the arrival of Somerset captain Justin Langer saw the visitors begin to canter to victory.

Langer hit a big six over deep midwicket on to Brighton road in the ninth over, and he and Trescothick both cleared the rope as Surrey spinner Usman Afzaal went for 19 runs in the 12th over.

Langer was dismissed by Afzaal in the last over before lunch as he missed an attempted sweep and was bowled.

By that time the Australian batsman had made 46 runs with two sixes and six fours from only 30 balls and he had guided his team to within 14 runs of victory by lunch.

It was left to James Hildreth to strike the winning runs in the second over after lunch, as he hit a six over long-on followed by a four straight down the ground to finish off a comfortable victory for Somerset.