FRIENDS PROVIDENT t20, Taunton:
Somerset 161-3 beat Sussex 159 by seven wickets
Match scorecard

Marcus Trescothick reached 50 in the FP t20 for the first time this season

Somerset skipper Marcus Trescothick plundered 50 in 33 balls to earn his side a surprise seven-wicket win over table-topping Sussex at Taunton.

After bowling out the holders for an under-par 159, Somerset knocked it off on 161-3 with eight balls to spare.

Having lost the toss, Sussex appeared in control when Matt Prior hit 36 in 13 balls, only to slump from 57-1 to 67-6 before Chris Nash's late rescue.

Prior is to take up keeping duties again next week after his hand injury.

The Sussex and England keeper has not behind the timbers of late as a precautionary measure after injuring his right hand in the Second Test against Bangladesh in May.

Matt Prior is determined to win back his one-day spot with England though and he will only do that keeping wicket for Sussex Sussex coach Mark Robinson

But Sussex cricket performance manager Mark Robinson said "The medical team have given him the all-clear so he's going to be keeping wicket again soon, possibly from early next week.

"This will further his chances to regain his place in the England one-day setup.

"We've been fortunate in the sense that we have two wicket-keepers in the side with Andy Hodd and not forgetting that Brendon McCullum who has been with us is another international keeper.

"Matt is determined to win back his one-day spot with England though and he will only do that keeping wicket for Sussex."

Even while not in full fitness, Prior has been no slouch with the bat, having smashed 117 from 55 balls in Wednesday night's win against Glamorgan at Cardiff.

And he was soon at it again at Taunton, belting it to all parts as he helped plunder 25 from Mark Turner's first over.

But the introduction into the attack of Kieron Pollard (3-16) and Alfonso Thomas (3-29) pegged Sussex back.

After Thomas grabbed the crucial wicket of Prior, Sussex collapsed, only for Nash (44) and Yasir Arafat (26) to give them some sort of worthwhile total to defend.

Trescothick led the charge in reply, striking eight fours and a six on his way to his half century.

Peter Trego (41) supported his skipper and, when both men fell, James Hildreth (37no) and Zander de Bruyn (30no) kept the run rate up and eased Somerset to a comfortable victory.

It was only South Group leaders Sussex's second Twenty20 defeat in two summers and they will look to bounce back against Kent at Hove on Sunday (1800 BST).

Somerset, who play Glamorgan at Taunton on Monday night, move up to second, six points adrift of Sussex.

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