T20 cricket returns to Taunton on Friday when Somerset kick off the defence of their Vitality Blast trophy with a home match against Essex starting at 6.30pm.

Since it was first introduced back in 2003, the Cidermen have lifted the T20 trophy on two occasions, the first time in 2005 when they beat Leicestershire at the Oval under the leadership of Graeme Smith.

After reaching the latter stages of the competition on several occasions since, Somerset triumphed again when they beat Essex at Edgbaston on that never to be forgotten July evening in 2023.

Friday evening sees a rematch of last year's final between two of the best supported non Test Match hosting clubs in the country, when it was Somerset who triumphed by 14 runs.

One of the most memorable moments of that evening was the one-handed grab that Tom Kohler-Cadmore made to catch Daniel Sams, who looked like threatening to spoil the party for a multitudes of Somerset fans who’s made the pilgrimage up the M5.

Kohler-Cadmore has been missing so far this season playing in the IPL but is expected to be in the line up on Friday along with Aussie paceman 28-year-old Riley Meredith, who certainly looked very quick when he was warming up at Taunton Vale earlier this week.

The last home T20 match at Taunton saw the Cidermen beating Nottigham Outlaws by five wickets in front of another packed house.

Preceding the Somerset v Essex match on Friday Western Storm take on Sunrisers in the Charlotte Edwards T20 Cup starting at 2.30pm.

There are still a few tickets remaining for Friday but given that the weather forecast is looking good the advice is to buy as soon a possible by logging onto www.somersetcountycc.co.uk

On Sunday Somerset travel take on Surrey at the Oval, starting at 6pm  in what will be a re-run of the semi final of the 2023 at Edgbaston.