A BRUTAL knock from Marcus Trescothick could not help Somerset slipping to defeat in their opening Twenty20 game at the County Ground last night (Wednesday).

The former England batsman hammered 69 from 32 balls but the Cidermen crashed to a 25-run defeat to Northamptonshire.

When he was out the innings literally fell apart, with only 64 runs scored in the final nine overs as Somerset closed on 176-7 in reply to the visitors' 201-4.

Trescothick thumped 24 from the fifth over of the innings - Johann Louw's first - to bring up his the team's, then his own, 50. It was his sixth 50 from his last 11 Twenty20 matches.

However, the rate slowed with the introduction of the slow bowlers, skipper Nicky Boje and Jason Brown. Off-spinner Brown ended Trescothick's stay, off the last ball of the ninth over, just after Langer had brought up the 100. His 69 contained ten fours and three sixes.

Langer (32 from 30 balls) soon followed, bowled by Brown at the start of the 12th over.

Pete Trego and Ian Blackwell looked to be rebuilding but the 16th over changed all that. Blackwell (ten from 11 balls) and James Hildreth (golden duck) were dismissed by Boje in successive balls in an over which cost only one, leaving them needing 54 from the last four overs.

Wes Durston was run out for one in the next over and Omari Banks soon followed, bowled by Louw for four, as Somerset's hopes crumbled.

They needed 33 from the last over and, in a lost cause, Trego was last out for 45 off 32 balls.

After being asked to bat earlier in the evening, the visitors were given a flying start by Robin White.

The opener clubbed three sixes and six fours in a 22-ball knock of 45 before being caught in the sixth over with the score on 63.

His dismissal saw the rate slow, but South African Andy Hall and David Sales made steady progress bringing the 100 up in the 12th over. Hall scored 54 in 35 balls before he missed one from Blackwell and was stumped by Kieswetter with the score on 148.

Sales then went on the attack, hitting three sixes and a four as Wes Durston's only over - the 17th of the innings - went for 24.

Sales eventually finished unbeaten on 71 which came from 44 balls with six sixes and two fours as his side posted 201-4.

It was a patchy bowling and fielding display from Somerset.

Turner, on his return from injury, bowled a tidy spell of 1-30 from four, while Blackwell took 1-33 from his four. Thomas, whose first two overs went for 29, came back well to end with 2-39 from four.

SOMERSET'S Twenty20 Cup matches now arrive thick and fast.

Tomorrow (Friday) they travel to play Glamorgan in Cardiff (7pm start) and return to the County Ground on Saturday when Warwickshire are the opponents (2.40pm) in game being screened live on Sky.

Somerset's next match is on Tuesday when they entertain Glamorgan (5.30pm).