SOMERSET recorded their first County Championship win of the season as they completed a four-wicket victory over Yorkshire at Headingley Carnegie on Sunday.

The victory, which came with 18 points, carried Somerset up to fifth in the table and condemned Yorshire to their first defeat.

Zander de Bruyn, who has been so impressive in one-day cricket this season, was the hero, hitting an unbeaten 70 to guide the team home past the target of 296 on the last day.

After winning the toss and batting first the hosts had reached 94-2 by lunch on the first day, but had slipped to 166-5 before Gerard Brophy and Tim Bresnan added 82 for the sixth wicket. That partnership was broken with the score on 248 and by the close the Tykes had moved onto 269-8.

The following morning Yorkshire quickly lost their two remaining wickets as they were all out for 277, Charl Willoughby ending with 3-30 off 23.3 overs, while Alfonso Thomas ended with 3-40.

The Cidermen’s response got off to a disastrous start when they lost both Marcus Trescothick and Justin Langer without a run on the board and had slipped to 97-6 before Craig Kieswetter (83) and Thomas added 52 runs for the seventh wicket, before the wicketkeeper was out.

Thomas and David Stiff, playing against his home county, then put on 66 for the eighth wicket before Stiff was out for 28 – a career-best – and eventually Somerset were all out for 230 with Thomas unbeaten on 64.

In their second innings Yorkshire were all out for 248, Willoughby being the pick of the bowlers once again, ending with 3-46.

Chasing a victory target of 296, Somerset reached 88 for the loss of Arul Suppiah in the 30 overs they batted at the end of the third day.

On the final day Trescothick and Langer took the total onto 131 before Trescothick was out for 78. James Hildreth fell cheaply but de Bruyn and Langer put on 40 before the skipper was out for 46.

De Bruyn and Kieswetter (25) then added 42 for the fifth wicket and Pete Trego stayed with de Bruyn and added 53 for the sixth before departing for 23 with Somerset still needing 22 to win.

However, Thomas (12 not out) and de Bruyn held their nerve to see the side home in mid- afternoon in 85.3 overs.

After the game Andy Hurry the Somerset coach said: “It was a tight game throughout and it was a great result for us. Yorkshire bowled well throughout and kept us under pressure, but the way the Somerset team went about the task showed the sort of character that we have.

“They key to our victory were the partnerships that we had throughout. Marcus Trescothick and Justin Langer got us off to a great start on the final day and then Zander de Bruyn showed again just what a class act he is by staying out there until we had won.

“All of the boys are delighted that we have got our first win in the county championship and will be looking for another when we go to take on Sussex at Hove later this week.”

Somerset start another championship match against Sussex at Hove on Tuesday.