Somerset triumph at Taunton

Willoughby and Thomas take three wickets apiece for hosts

Last updated: 9th September 2010  

Somerset triumph at Taunton

Willoughby: Claimed 3-37

LV County Championship - Division One
Taunton - Day Three
Lancashire 259 (S Chanderpaul 56, C M Willoughby 4-60) & 170 v Somerset 382 (C Kieswetter 84, M Kartik 52 no, P D Trego 51, G Keedy 5-81) & 48-1
Somerset (23pts) beat Lancashire (5pts) by 9 wkts

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Somerset moved to within two points of Division One leaders Nottinghamshire with a nine-wicket win over Lancashire inside three days.

With the table-toppers losing to Yorkshire, Somerset boosted their hopes of a first ever LV= County Championship title by picking up 23 points at Taunton.

They had started Thursday's play on 350-8 in their first innings and extended their overnight lead of 91 to 123 thanks to an unbeaten 52 from Murali Kartik.

The Indian spinner registered his second 50 of the county season, hitting eight fours and a six to help Somerset reach 382 before they were bowled out.

Last man Charl Willoughby contributed 16 in a hurry with the bat before getting back to his regular job of taking wickets. The left-arm seamer claimed 3-37 as Lancashire were bowled out for just 170 in 59.5 overs.

Alfonso Thomas (3-53) also played a prominent role as only Steven Croft, who top-scored with 46, offered any real resistance for the visitors.

Left needing a mere 48 to win, Somerset lost skipper Marcus Trescothick early for eight but Nick Compton hit an unbeaten 30 to steer them home.

Lancashire took five points from the fixture but are now out of the running to take the crown. However they will still help decide who will be champions, as they face Nottinghamshire next week. Somerset are away to Durham.

Day Two

Somerset were grateful for the return of Craig Kieswetter from England duty as he helped the hosts build a useful lead over Lancashire by the end of day two at Taunton.

Having resumed in the morning on 58-1, title-chasing Somerset had reached 350-8 - giving them a 91-run advantage - by the time rain arrived.

Kieswetter, who had missed the opening day of the Division One fixture due to England's Twenty20 series against Pakistan, hit his highest LV=County Championship score of the season.

The wicketkeeper-batsman made 84 off 80 balls, hitting nine fours and a

six before becoming one of five victims for left-arm spinner Gary Keedy.

Somerset were indebted to Kieswetter having at one stage slipped to 160-5. He shared in a 111-run stand with Peter Trego, who made 51.

Keedy (5-81) finally broke the sixth-wicket partnership before getting birthday boy Jos Buttler lbw without troubling the scorers. At one stage Lancashire had their opponents at 276-8 before being frustrated by some late resistance.

Ben Phillips (29 not out) and Murali Kartik, who finished up unbeaten on 37, put on 74 with few alarms to claim a fourth batting bonus point.

Day One

Charl Willoughby claimed 4-60 as Somerset bowled out Lancashire for 259 on the opening day at Taunton.

The South African has again taken 50 Championship wickets, a landmark he has achieved in all of his five seasons with Somerset, and raised hopes of a victory that could keep alive their title hopes.

Only Shivnarine Chanderpaul (56) offered much resistance before the last two Lancashire wickets added 90, Gary Keedy making 34 and Saj Mahmood 29.

By the close Somerset had replied with 54-1, skipper Marcus Trescothick falling to Keedy for 33.

Willoughby produced a fine nine-over opening spell from the Old Pavilion End, sending back openers Tom Smith and Paul Horton with only 32 runs on the board.

From 153-4, Lancashire slumped to 169-8 as Willoughby removed Gareth Cross and Kyle Hogg either side of Murali Kartik pinning Luke Procter lbw.

Keedy was bowled by Ben Phillips when the new ball was taken, having faced 87 deliveries and hit five fours.

The left-arm spinner then did his side another big favour by having Somerset Trescothick caught at short mid-wicket by Smith just as he was looking to cut loose.