AT the halfway point in the group stage of this year’s Vitality Blast, the holders Somerset have 10 points from the seven matches that they have played, five of which have been won, and before last night’s results they were top.

The Cidermen returned to the top of the table after beating Kent in a five-over shoot out that started at 9.02pm; a result that featured 24 off nine balls by Tom Kohler-Cadmore and an impressive all round bowling display from Riley Meredith, Jake Ball and Ben Green, which saw them to a 14-run (DLS) victory.

On Sunday against Glamorgan, in front of an all but sell out crowd, thanks to a breathtaking 86 from Will Smeed off 48 balls with nine fours and five sixes, 42 from Craig Overton and an unbeaten 21 by Roelof van der Merwe, the hosts racked up 193 for eight from their overs.

When the visitors replied they were swept away and bowled out for 85 in 13.2 overs, thanks again to the strong bowling unit that Somerset has at its disposal, skipper Lewis Gregory taking three for 11, Jake Ball two for nine while van der Merwe took two wickets from the two balls he bowled!

On Friday evening, Somerset play the first of their local derby matches when they travel to face the old enemy Gloucestershire in front of a sell-out crowd at Bristol.

Following this game, they are back in Championship action with the return match against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge starting on Sunday, June 23, after which they host Warwickshire in a four day game at Taunton starting on June 30.

In early July, the remaining T20 matches come thick and fast with five fixtures in 14 days concluding with Glamorgan away on July 19.

If Somerset finish in the top four of the South Group, they will qualify for the quarter finals of the competition which are scheduled to be played between September 3 and 6, while the Vitality Blast Finals Day is on September 14, at the end of which Lewis Gregory and his men will be hoping to have become the first county to retain the T20 trophy!