Hants outgunned by Hildreth ton  (BBC Match Summary)

Somerset 288-5 beat Hampshire 286-4 by five wickets

 Pietersen made 62 on his first county game of the season

James Hildreth outshone Hampshire's Kevin Pietersen with his unbeaten 112 to seal a five-wicket win for Somerset in the Friends Provident Trophy match.

England batsman Pietersen, in his first county game of the season, made a rapid 62 from 59 balls to help Hampshire to a lofty total of 286.

Somerset's reply got off to a shaky start as Marcus Trescothick was bowled by Sean Ervine for just a single run.

But Hildreth's and Zander De Bruyn's third-wicket stand set up the win.

Their stand of 159 in only 23 saw Hampshire assert their dominance and stroll to victory in an entertaining match at the Rose Bowl.

Pietersen provided some early fireworks, hitting two sixes and six fours, as Trescothick, standing in for Justin Langer as captain, put Hampshire into bat first. 

John Crawley, Michael Lumb and Sean Ervine also contributed half-centuries against a toiling attack.

Only Charl Willoughby offered any threat, conceding just 33 from his 10 overs.

Despite Trescothick's early loss, Somerset also found the runs came just as easily with Craig Kieswetter hitting 46.

Hampshire were hampered by the early loss of New Zealand paceman Shane Bond who limped out of the action with a calf muscle injury after bowling only five overs.

De Bruyn contributed 79 before he was caught on the ropes and some late jitters saw Ian Blackwell depart for 21 and John Francis go for just two.

As it was Wesley Durston and Hildreth, who knocked two sixes and 10 fours off 83 balls, sealed the win with nine balls to spare.

Hildreth takes plaudits (ECB Match Report)

James Hildreth upstaged Kevin Pietersen as Somerset defeated Hampshire by five wickets in a high-scoring Friends Provident Trophy match at the Rose Bowl.

England batsman Pietersen was in outstanding form in his first county appearance of the season, making a rapid 62 of 59 balls in an innings which included two sixes and six fours.

But Hampshire's formidable 286 for four proved to be no problem for Somerset, who won in the penultimate over thanks to Hildreth's unbeaten 112.

Somerset stand-in captain Marcus Trescothick, replacing the injured Justin Langer, opted to bat second after winning the toss and it looked as if he had made the wrong decision as Hampshire rattled up a big total on an easy-paced wicket.

Pietersen, John Crawley, Michael Lumb and Sean Ervine all hit half-centuries against a toiling attack.

Only Charl Willoughby offered any threat, conceding just 33 from his 10 overs.

James Hildreth dominated for Somerset Hampshire's fifth-wicket pair of Ervine and Chris Benham put on 73 in only six overs as Somerset failed to stem the tide.

When the visitors' reply began, their task looked all the more difficult when Trescothick was bowled by Ervine in the second over after making only one.

But Somerset found batting just as easy, with Craig Kieswetter hitting 46 in rapid time as Somerset began to get on top.

Their dominance was confirmed by a third-wicket stand of 159 in only 23 overs between Zander De Bruyn and Hildreth.

Hampshire were hampered by the early loss of New Zealand paceman Shane Bond who limped out of the action with a calf muscle injury after bowling only five overs.

De Bruyn and Hildreth took full advantage of Bond's absence and a short boundary to put Somerset in an unassailable position.

De Bruyn was caught on the ropes after hitting 79 from 108 balls and Ian Blackwell was quick to build on his example.

Blackwell was fourth out at 251 and there were jitters in the Somerset camp when ex-Hampshire batsman John Francis followed at 262.

But then Wesley Durston joined Hildreth to make sure of a Somerset victory, their second over Hampshire in the competition this season. They won with nine balls to spare, leaving their opponents still looking for their first win of the season.

Hildreth's century was his second in one-day cricket and included two sixes and 10 fours off 83 balls as he celebrated the signing of a new three-year contract.

Scorecard

Kevin Pietersen will bat again at The Rose Bowl on Sunday 4th May in Hampshire's next Friend's Provident Trophy clash against the Gloucestershire Gladiators. Visitors welcome for this gladitorial battle on the day. 

Kevin Pietersen in pre match batting practise with the Hawks (Photo - jasonpix.co.uk)

Michael Carberry limbers up for the Hawks (Photo - jasonpix.co.uk)

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