Elements halt Notts' charge

Rain was the only winner at Taunton

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LV County Championship - Division One
Taunton
Somerset 106 (D J Pattinson 5-40, A R Adams 4-39) & 335 (M E Trescothick 81, J L Langer 73) v Nottinghamshire 230 (C M W Read 74no, S R Patel 56, P D Trego 4-54) & 125-4
Somerset (7pts) drew with Nottinghamshire (8pts)

LV County Championship Division One leaders Nottinghamshire were denied the chance to put further distance between themselves and the chasing pack after rain scuppered their hopes of victory at Taunton.

Resuming the day requiring a further 149 runs for victory with seven wickets in hand, Nottinghamshire added a further 62 runs with the loss of only one wicket before the elements dashed their hopes of victory.

Only 49 balls were bowled during the whole day as Samit Patel (42no) and Andre Adams wasted no time in chasing the remaining runs needed to clinch what would have been a precious victory.

Adams was clean bowled for 20 by Andrew Caddick in the only wicket to fall on day four, however Notts were left stranded 87 runs of their target as the rain failed to relent.

The eight points acquired by Notts means they hold a slender one point advantage over second placed Durham - Somerset remain in third - 11 points behind the leaders.

Day Three

Division One leaders Nottinghamshire ended the third day at Taunton needing a further 149 runs to beat Somerset with seven second-innings wickets in hand.

The home side began the day on 114-0, 10 runs behind, and were indebted to fine contributions from Marcus Trescothick (81) and Justin Langer (73) as they were bowled out for 335.

Andre Adams took 3-51 to add to his four first-innings victims and Charlie Shreck 3-71.

That left Nottinghamshire chasing 212 to win. But they lost Bilal Shafayat, Matt Wood and Mark Wagh in moving to 63-3 by stumps and it would take a brave man to predict the outcome of this crucial top-of-the-table clash.

After Nottinghamshire broke a well-crafted 136 partnership between left-handers Trescothick and Langer, the visitors began to make steady inroads through the brittle Somerset middle-order.

Peter Trego (26), Alfonso Thomas (22), Steffan Jones (26) and Andy Caddick (20) did their best to make the tail wag, but Somerset looked 30 runs short of setting a testing target.

Nottinghamshire had reached 24-0 when Shafayat cut Jones' first ball of the innings straight to James Hildreth at point and departed for 10. The same over saw Wagh dropped by de Bruyn at gully.

Former Somerset batsman Wood made 24 before slashing at a wide one from Thomas and being given out caught behind, a decision he clearly did not agree with.

It was then 55-3 when Thomas beat Wagh for pace and bowled him on the back foot for 13. A see-saw contest remains in the balance as both sides return on Saturday attempting to claim what would be a precious victory.

Day Two

Somerset's openers put them back in contention against Nottinghamshire in their County Championship match at Taunton after the visitors were bowled out for 230 in their first innings.

Notts, who had skittled Somerset for 106 on the opening day, built a lead of 124 thanks to half-centuries from Chris Read (74 not out) and Samit Patel (56).

Peter Trego was the pick of the Somerset bowlers, finishing with 4-54, but the hosts were frustrated by a last-wicket stand between Charlie Shreck and Read worth 37 runs.

Justin Langer and Marcus Trescothick then set about reducing the deficit to just 10 runs with an unbroken partnership worth 114.

Langer was unbeaten on 60, having reached his half-century off 64 balls, with eight fours, while Trescothick reached his 50 just before tea off 80 deliveries, hitting seven fours and a six.

However, heavy rain intervened during the tea interval, preventing any further play.

Day One

Darren Pattinson put the fall-out to his disappointing England debut behind him by taking five wickets as LV County Championship Division One leaders Nottinghamshire skittled Somerset out for just 106 on day one at Taunton.

Having won an important toss, the visitors inserted Somerset on a green first-day pitch and took full advantage of the helpful conditions with Pattinson and Andre Adams (4-39) to the fore.

Pattinson ended with figures of 5-40 as Somerset never recovered from losing openers Justin Langer and Marcus Trescothick for just one run apiece.

Only James Hildreth (13), Craig Kieswetter (18), Aaron Thomas (19) and Steffan Jones (27) made double figures for the hosts who were bowled out in just 39.1 overs.

In reply Nottinghamshire closed on 185-6 with Mark Wagh contributing 46, Samit Patel 56 and Chris Read still at the crease on 33 not out.