THERE is nothing that delights Somerset fans more than to see their own local players coming to the fore and over the course of the last week the Cidermen’s young guns have played a major role in ensuring key victories, writes Richard Walsh.

On Friday evening in the local T20 derby with Gloucestershire after 21 year old Will Smeed had blasted his way to 78 off 42 balls to kick start innings in pursuit of 187,  it was 22 year old Kasey Aldrdge from Radstock with an unbeaten 32 off 20 balls, in his first innings in this format at home who saw the Cidermen home.

For almost five overs Kasey played very much the support role to Ben Green with who he added 48 for the sixth wicket before the more senior all rounder was out for 37 with the total on 160.

Kasey was then joined by Craig Overton and the pair stayed together to see Somerset to victory with three balls to spare.

Going into the final over  eight runs were needed, and Kasey was on strike. He took two of the first ball, four off the second before running two off the third to see Somerset to a four wicket victory.

Kasey ended unbeaten on 32 for which he had batted for half an hour and faced  20 balls and hit three fours.

Kasey said:“To be able to be out there and play my part in helping  Somerset to victory was a real pleasure and quite unbelievable- I have never experienced anything like that before in my life. Friday night against the Gloucesters it doesn’t get much better than that so I’m really so pleased to get the boys over the line.”

On Monday in the championship game against Nottinghamshire the Somerset youngsters again played a key role in enabling the team to pull off a remarkable 399 run victory, made even more impressive given that they were bowled out for 163 in their fist innings.

Notts were then bowled out for 186 - a slender lead of 23 runs. Somerset’s second innings didn’t start well and when 25 year old George Bartlett walked out to the middle the scoreboard read 43 for two- effectively a lead of 20 with just eight wickets remaining.

A large partnership was needed and George and 23 year old Tom Lammonby didn’t disappoint adding 119 together before Lammonby was out for a patient 73. George and Tom Kohler-Cadmore then put on 69 before the latter went for 33.

James Rew the 19 year old batting starlet then joined George and took the total onto 320 when George was out for 134- the eighth century of his career ,after which Kasey Aldridge came to the wicket and added 127 for the sixth wicket hitting  50 before he was out.

James Rew remained at the crease to see the hosts to 514 for eight declared by which time he was unbeaten on a career beat 123- his fourth championship century.

Notts were then bowled out for 92, Aldridge taking two for 41 whilst Rew claimed three catches behind the stumps.