Somerset maintained their unbeaten start to the Clydesdale Bank 40 thanks to Craig Kieswetter’s second century of the one-day season.
Having bowled out Gloucestershire off the final ball of their allotted 40 overs, last season’s runners-up eased to a comfortable eight-wicket win, with six overs to spare.
It was another competent performance from Somerset who, having won the toss, bowled and batted with great purpose on a wicket that was significantly less helpful than the Championship track had been during the week.
Former Gloucestershire seamer Steve Kirby picked up the early wicket of Ian Cockbain, but was over shadowed, thereafter, by Devon-born youngsters Lewis Gregory and Adam Dibble.
Gregory, 18, who took his first Championship wicket against Worcestershire on Wednesday, bowled with pace and accuracy, on his way to career best figures of 4-27.
Dibble, two years his senior, bowled with equal menace and weighed in with 3-52 from 10 overs. For Gloucestershire, it was a mixed bag.
Captain Alex Gidman and New Zealander Kane Williamson added 117 for the second wicket with the former passing 50 from 66 balls.
However, having looked in decent shape at 135-1, in the 26th over, the visitors lost their last nine wickets for just 78.
There was even a wicket for Sri Lankan Ajantha Mendis, who has been far from convincing since arriving in Taunton as an early season replacement for Murali Kartik.
In reply, openers Marcus Trescothick and Kieswetter made short shrift of the Gloucestershire attack.
Together, they passed 50 inside seven overs, with Kieswetter adding to his century against Nottinghamshire and unbeaten 95 against Glamorgan, with an equally impressive unbeaten 108.
Trescothick, struck six fours in reaching his 50, from as many balls, but departed, two balls later, trapped leg before by Richard Dawson.
Still, Kieswetter, who looks an odds-on bet to win a place in England’s one-day squad this summer, continued where his skipper left off.
Despite being dropped on 39 and 85, he passed 100 from 101 balls, and with Nick Compton, duly took Somerset to a fourth successive victory of the campaign.
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