LAST Friday marked the end of the cricket season at Taunton for Somerset County Cricket Club and while the weather had dominated the first three days of the championship match against Kent the final one was a real Last of the Summer Wine Days - the sun shone all day long, it was proper shirt sleeves weather.

So what memories from the season will Somerset supporters be taking with them to see them through the long winter months ahead?

The Number One memory has to be winning the Vitality Blast Final at Edgbaston in July when thanks to two outstanding bowling and fielding performances and two good innings from Sean Dickson the Cidermen lifted the T20 trophy after an 18 year wait.

In championship cricket the highlight has to be the batting of James Rew who became the first player in the top division to reach 1000 runs,300 more than any other Somerset batter. Hopefully the Taunton youngster will be selected for an England Lions tour this winter.

Another highlight on the batting front was Lewis Goldsworthy scoring a century in the penultimate match of the season against Kent on his debut appearance of the season- where has he been for the rest of the summer?

Kasey Aldridge also impressed with the bat and scored an unbeaten century, although his bowling wasn’t so good this year.

Talking of bowling New Zealander Matt Henry proved himself to be a great overseas signing and as well as playing a crucial part onT20 finals day he claimed 32 championship wickets at 16.18 which included four five-wicket hauls and a best of 6 for 59.

Craig Overton claimed 26 scalps and when he and Henry were bowling in tandem Somerset had an attack to threaten any team. Sadly however the Kiwi’s stay was all too short.

Over the winter months Somerset will no doubt be looking to strengthen their squad - so what will be top of the shopping list - another batter who is reliable and a regular run scorer in four day cricket of the same mindset and ability as James Rew and another paceman to strengthen the attack.

So in 2023 Somerset won the T20 Trophy for the silverware and just about did enough to survive for another season in the top flight. However for many followers the Cidermen should be challenging for the title rather than just staying put.