UNLESS Gloucestershire can persuade him to remain at Bristol, Ian Harvey will return to Australia this month as originally planned. He will leave with the impression that his skills in the one-day game have lost none of their potency after Somerset were beaten heavily for the second time this season by their West Country rivals.

A century off only 73 balls was followed by an over of medium pace that accounted for Somerset’s best two batsmen and effectively decided the match. Harvey ran out Marcus Trescothick off his own bowling, deflecting a drive from Cameron White at full stretch. The Australia one-day player, conceivably disconcerted, was bowled next ball aiming across the line.

That was 71 for three and when James Hildreth and Ian Blackwell were out cheaply, that was just about that, Martyn Ball the chief destroyer with five for 48. Only Keith Parsons, who made 65 from 60 balls, kept Gloucestershire in the field.

Andrew Caddick had made an excellent start for the home side, reducing Gloucestershire to seven for two, and missed a difficult return catch off Harvey before the former Australia one-day all-rounder cut loose in an innings that contained five sixes and 14 fours.