SOMERSET fans were treated to a feast of cricketing delights yesterday afternoon when the Cidermen beat Nottinghamshire Outlaws by five wickets to keep alive their chances of reaching the semi-finals of this seasons CB40.

Notts were limited to 206-9 thanks to a magical spell of bowling from overseas signing Abdur Rehman who took 6-16 off his eight overs to set a Somerset record in 40 over cricket.

When Somerset replied Craig Kieswetter - returning between matches for the Lions - blitzed 44 off 23 balls. In the third over of the innings, bowled by Samit Patel, the Lions’ gloveman took 22 runs off the first five balls, hitting four 4s and then a six.

Skipper Marcus Trescothick also made a very welcome return to form with a fine half century.

After being asked to bat first Notts looked well set at 96-1 in the 15th over before Gemaal Hussain accounted for Michael Lumb, well caught in the deep by Arul Suppiah for 41. Shortly afterwards Rehman had David Hales LBW for 53.

Wickets then tumbled at regular intervals, with only Graham White, unbeaten on 39, offering much resistance.

Rehman claimed five of those wickets as the run rate slowed and off the last 10 overs.

Rehman wove most of his magic from the Old Pavilion End while Hussain ended with 2-44 and Suppiah 1-42. Jack Leach making his one-day, debut was unlucky to remain wicketless from his four overs.

If the bowling performance was impressive the Somerset response was given a blistering start as Kieswetter and Trescothick raced the total to 57 in five overs before the former was out.

Trego then blitzed 26 off 20 balls after which it was Trescothick who dominated the proceedings.

The skipper, who on his own admission has struggled with the bat since returning from his ankle injury, took 18 off the 11th and brought his own half century in just 30 balls.

Trescothick was back to his best and the large crowd basking in the sunshine were loving it. The left hander saw the 200 up off the last ball of the 29th over with a four to fine leg off Andy Carter and then quickly finished the game off with a four off White.

Trescothick said: “The win was vital for us and it’s good just to keep the momentum going. We have been really good over the last two weeks, albeit in two rain affected championship games, but our one day cricket has been superb and we are doing really well.

“It’s important to keep that momentum going because we have got T20 Finals Day coming up in the next few weeks and we want to maintain the good things that we have done to get ourselves over the line.

Trescothick added: “Abdur Rehman was brilliant. It really spun big time and he was the difference between the two sides.”