SOMERSET began the defence of their Vitality Blast title in some style with an emphatic four wicket victory over Essex - with five balls to spare - in front of a sell out crowd at Taunton.

The Somerset heroes were two local boys Tom Abell who hit a half century and skipper Lewis Gregory who claimed three wickets.

At the start of the game after being put into bat Essex openers Adam Rossington and former Somerset player Dean Elgar got off to a flying start and brought up the 50 off five overs.

The partnership was worth 67 when in the eighth over Rossington was bowled by Lewis Gregory for 32 which he hit off 24 balls. Roelof Van Der Merwe came on at the River End and had new batter Michel Pepper caught by Ben Green with the score on 67.

Elgar and new bat Jordan Cox then started to take control and added 58 in just less than six overs when Cox was caught by Jake Ball off Gregory for 30.

Elgar remained at the crease until he was last man out, caught by Tom Kohler-Cadmore off Gregory in the final over for 77 before Essex closed their innings on 193 for six. Gregory ended with three for 42.

Chasing what was likely to be a challenging target the Somerset opening pair Tom Banton and Will Smeed attacked from the off.

Smeed took 20 off the fourth over - two sixes and two fours, before Banton skied the first ball of the fifth and was out for 21 off 14 balls, making the hosts 49 for one.

Smeed continued to blast and hit successive sixes off the first two deliveries but off the next was caught at cover by Simon Harmer off Daniel Sams for 39 off 16 balls.

Harmer pouched another superb catch to remove Kohler-Cadmore for one off spinner Matt Critchley making the hosts 69 for three after seven overs.

At the halfway stage of the innings Somerset were 90 for three compared to Essex 87 for two, so the game looked to be heading for a close finish.

Sean Dickson brought up the 100 with a six over long off from the bowling of Critchley,

Dickson’s fourth wicket partnership with Tom Abell added 58 before he was out caught by Allison off Beard for 26 and by the end of the 14th over the hosts needed 65 to win off 36 balls.

Gregory and Abell continued to plunder and with four overs required 36 for victory, the latter’s half century coming off 31 balls with five fours and one six.

The fifth wicket pair continued to take their runs at a pace and another Gregory six brought up the 50 partnership off just 21 balls.

With three overs left Somerset needed 15 to win which had reduced to eight off 12 balls. With 10 balls remaining Abell was out for 55, caught by ‘keeper Rossington off Walter - his stand with Gregory worth 60.

With two runs needed Gregory was caught and bowled by Walter for 44 off 20 balls, two fours and four sixes.

In the end it was left to Overton to hit the first ball of the final over for four, sending the maximum crowd home with something to cheer.