SOMERSET vice-captain Marcus Trescothick believes the team’s excellent one-day form is down to the hard work they put in during the winter.

The Cidermen thrashed Middlesex by eight wickets on Monday to make it three straight victories in the Friends Provident Trophy.

Trescothick is now looking for the side to top their group and claim a home quarter-final tie. Somerset play the remaining five games in the 50-over competition in the space of just 12 days, starting with the Scottish Saltires on Monday.

Trescothick said: “In the winter and during our pre-season we targeted our one day cricket so to get the benefit of all the work so quickly is really good.

“It shows that we have hopefully done the right things because at the moment we are at the top of our group. If we can keep this roll going then it would be great.

“Our target is to win all our remaining five games, and the way that we are playing at the moment there is no reason why we can’t. We would love to end top of the group so we can get a home tie in the quarter finals on May 23.

“It would be great to see a really big crowd at the new-look County Ground for that game because there is just such a fantastic atmosphere when you get a large crowd behind you at Taunton.”

SOMERSET reached 137-3 in their second innings at the end of day two in the championship match against Nottinghampshire at Trent Bridge.

That gives the Cidermen a lead of 14, with the hosts still to bat again.

Somerset's not out batsmen were Marcus Trescothick (66) and Justin Langer (22) with Arul Suppiah, James Hildreth and Omari Banks the players' out.

Earlier in the day, Charl Willoughby snapped up 5-81 as Notts were bowled out for 261 in reply to Somerset's first innings 138.