SOMERSET kicked off their pre-season fixtures with a convincing 132-run win over Worcestershire in a 50-over match in Abu Dhabi.

George Bartlett top scored with 75 in Somerset's 305-8 before Jack Brooks (3-22) and Josh Davey (3-32) were among the wickets as last season's T20 champions were bowled out for 173.

Eddie Byrom (42), Tom Banton (32), Roelof van der Merwe (31) and Tim Groenewald (34 from 15 balls) also contributed with the bat on a pleasing day's work for Somerset.

Head coach Jason Kerr said: "It was great to see the young lads at the top of the order do well.

"Tom Banton batted really well and George Bartlett showed a lot of composure.

"It would have been great if one of them had really pushed on and pushed their case for selection later in the summer, but it's a great start to the tour for those two.

"Jack Brooks looked good at both ends of the innings.

"He took the new ball with Craig Overton and they both looked penetrative. He [Brooks] had a couple of edges that didn't quite carry and a few we unfortunately dropped, but he came back at the end and got his rewards."

Kerr also revealed Azhar Ali, Somerset's overseas player for 2019, has joined the rest of the squad in training.

"To have Azhar fly in shows exactly the kind of character he is and why we have re-signed him," Kerr said.

Somerset's next match in their Abu Dhabi tour is a 50-over match against Essex on Thursday, with several changes expected.