Somerset LV Championship Div 1 at Taunton Loss 3 points

 

27/06

NOTTS ROUTED, REACHING AN ALL TIME LOW

Notts slipped to their heaviest ever championship defeat losing by 399 runs in an utterly embarrassing fashion. Having allowed Somerset to chalk up a score of 514 for 8 declared, they were bowled out for 92 all out in 25.1 overs. It only took the Somerset bowlers, who bowled with much more pace and fire than the lack lustre Notts attack, 108 minutes to complete their task, winning with a day and 10.5 overs to spare. Notts' previous heaviest defeat in the championship was by 365 runs against Kent at Trent Bridge in 1899. Their biggest ever defeat in first-class cricket remains their 412 run defeat against the Australians at Trent Bridge in 1938.

On a dank and murky day, the floodlights were in use all day. Somerset were content with two sessions of steady accumulation against a tidy but relatively unthreatening Notts attack.

Lyndon James bowled the opening over from the River End and then Notts took the new ball (Hutton and Ball) with Somerset on 268 for 4 off 80 overs. Paterson replaced Ball for the 88th over and after a three over spell he changed ends with James coming on from the River End. Bartlett and Rew had added 89 in 28 overs when Bartlett (134) was finally dismissed bowled by fine well pitched up delivery from Paterson, 320 for 5 in the 97th over. Rew reached his 50 off 105 balls. Carter came on for the 102nd over. Ball replaced Paterson for the 105th over. Somerset 365 for 5 at lunch off 109 overs with Rew on 60 and Alridge on 19.

In the 112th over, Rew hit Carter for 6 over mid wicket. Rew having been dropped first ball by Moores yesterday was grassed once again by the keeper on 73 again off Ball in the 113th over. Next over, Rew hit Carter for another six this time over long on. Hutton replaced Ball for the 117th over. An edged four by Rew off Hutton saw him to 100 off 172 balls. James and Paterson replaced Carter and Hutton for the 126th and 127th overs respectively. Aldridge reached 50 off 88 balls and next ball Rew pulled Paterson for 6 over long leg. Aldridge was bowled James for 50, 447 for 6 in the 128th over. The 6th wicket had added 127 runs in 31 overs. The declaration seemed imminent.

Overton holed out to the deep square ropes where Montgomery took the catch, a second wicket for James, 461 for 7 in the 130th over. Mullaney returned for the 137th over and Davey (19) was caught at deep square leg by Hutton off his fourth delivery, 488 for 8. Somerset reached 500 in the 138th over via an enormous six over square leg by Henry off James. He then launched Mullaney for 6 over mid wicket at which point Somerset declared on 514 for 8 declared with Rew on 123 and Henry on 22. Paterson was the most threatening of the Notts attack which struggled to extract pace out of the wicket. Tea was taken between the innings.

Notts had 132 overs to bat to save the game. Henry (River End) and Overton shared the new ball. Straight away they extracted pace and bounce from the wicket. Hameed bagged a pair having the hit the ball to Bartlett at backward point he charged down the pitch, Slater sent him back but Hameed was well short of his ground when Bartlett's direct throw hit the stumps, 0 for 1 after 2 overs. A comic start to the innings but far worse was to come. Slater (1) fell plumb leg before to Henry in the following over, 2 for 2. In the 8th over, Montgomery (7) was caught at second slip by Aldridge off Overton, 10 for 3. Clarke (3) was caught at second slip by Overton diving to right off Henry, 14 for 4 in the 11th over. James (8) miserable run continued when he was caught playing a loose shot at Lammonby at third slip off Davey, 32 for 5 in the 14th over. It was now apparent that the game would finish today. Somerset was circling on their prey just like the pair of peregrine falcons which could be seen flying over the ground and also perched on the floodlights.

Mullaney and Moores went for their shots adding 30 in 5 overs. Mullaney (23) going for expansive drive was caught by Rew at second slip off Aldridge, 62 for 6 in the 19th over. Hutton (0) inside edged Davey to Rew behind the stumps, 63 for 7 after 20 overs. Umpire Pollard was unmoved and presumably thought Hutton did not get an edge. In the next over, Rew got his third catch as Moores (24) edged Aldridge behind, 67 for 8 in the 21st over. Moores, Mullaney and James have yet to register a championship 50 between them in 2023. Ball (1) was caught at short mid wicket by Dickson off Davey, 84 for 9 after 24 overs. Paterson (5) was the last man to fall another catch by Overton at second slip, a fourth wicket for Davey (4 for 17). Carter 15 not out. Notts 92 all out off 25.1 overs at 1755. A truly miserable, unacceptable and embarrassing performance in front of largest travelling away contingent this season. Notts at the moment uncompetitive in the championship without Duckett and Broad. Let's hope their ridiculous declaration at Lord's does not cost them their first division place.MAG

26/06

NOTTS UNDER PRESSURE AS SOMERSET TAKE THE INITIATIVE

as Notts have a horrendous day at Taunton

After a truly woeful second day for Notts, Somerset are seemingly in an unassailable position leading by 245 runs with 6 second innings wickets still standing.

Bashir (River End) bowled the opening over and Henry the second. Overton replaced Bashir for the third over. Mullaney and Slater were both struggling. Off the last delivery of the 50th over and the fifth over of the morning, Mullaney (29) edged Overton straight to Aldridge at second slip, 152 for 5. This was a start of dramatic collapse where Notts lost 6 wickets for 34 in 9.5 overs as Kiwi Matt Henry ran amok with his pace and accuracy proving too much. Next over, top scorer Slater (70) edged Henry to Overton at second slip, 154 for 6. Both overnight batsmen out and now all Somerset had to do was wipe out Notts' long tail, who as expected proved easy pickings.

In his next over, Henry removed Hutton's middlle stump for 4, 158 for 7. A four through mid wicket by Moores off Overton saw Notts take the lead in the 56th over, Moores hit the next delivery for 6 over square leg. Carter played on to Henry for 8, 176 for 8. Moores (10), softened up by dangerous short ball from Henry, drove the Kiwi straight to Kohler Cadmore at extra cover, 177 for 9 after 57 overs. Paterson (5) was the last wicket to fall caught behind by Rew off Overton. Notts 186 all out off 59.4 overs Henry 6 for 59 had bowled the best spell of the match not only destroying the lower order within an hour but also knocking the stuffing out of a hangdog Notts outfit. Notts led by 23 on first innings.

Hutton (Marcus Trescothick Pavilion End) and Ball shared the new ball. Lammonby on 6 was crucially dropped by Hutton at third slip off Ball, the first of three bad drops from the Green and Gold. In the 5th over, Dickson hit Hutton for six over square leg. A four through mid wicket by Dickson off Hutton saw Somerset take the lead in the 7th over. After a four over spell from Hutton, Paterson came on for the 9th over. Paterson removed Dickson (26) plumb leg before in his second over, 41 for 1. On the last delivery before lunch, Lammonby outside edged Ball towards the vacant third man position with slip Clarke chasing the ball. Abell (0) shouted for a third which seemed rather reckless and he was run out via a direct hit from Clarke. Somerset 43 for 2 off 12 overs at lunch with Lammonby on 16. Notts who had had such a poor morning had gained an unexpected wicket on the stroke of the interval. Would they regroup and come up with added vigour after lunch. The answer sadly was no, carrying little threat on what an hour earlier had looked an unplayable minefield.

After an eight over spell from Ball, Carter came in from the River End. Hutton replaced Paterson for the 23rd over. The Somerset 100 came up in the 26th over as Lammonby and Bartlett looked relatively untroubled.. Lammonby reached his 50 off 88 balls . Mullaney came on for the 33rd over. Ball replaced Carter for the 38th over and had Lammonby dropped on 52 a sitter at second slip by the man he had replaced, Carter. James was finally given a bowl in the 41st over and bowled a 4 over spell. Bartlett got to his 50 off 110 balls making hay against some pretty average Notts bowling. Somerset reached tea on 155 for 2 off 47 overs with Lammonby on 72 and Bartlett on 50.

Somerset piled on a further 113 runs in 32 overs in the early evening sunshine for the loss of 2 wickets. Paterson bowled a good spell without luck straight after tea, the best we saw from a Notts bowler all day. In the 50th over, Lammonby (73) was bowled by Carter playing an ugly legside hoick, 162 for 3. The third wicket stand worth 119 in 38 overs. The Somerset 200 was achieved in the 62nd over. Ball then replaced Paterson for the following.over. Kohler-Cadmore (33) slogged Ball to Hameed at deep square leg who took caught the ball just in front of the ropes and in order to make sure he took the catch cleanly parried the ball to himself to catch it, once more, 231 for 4. Next ball, new batsman Rew was dropped first ball by Moores failing to hold a legside catch the ball going for 4. James had a 2 over spell from the River End before making way for the returning Carter who had bowled with good control during the 24 overs he bowled After a break of 42 overs, Hutton returned for the 73rd over. Barlett reached his 100 off 203 balls with a straight six off Carter, his chanceless innings and ensured Somerset had complete control of the game. Somerset closed on 268 for 4 off 79 overs with Bartlett on 109 and Rew on 17. The new ball is due after one over tomorrow but logic would suggest this match is over as a contest after a truly horrendous day of bad batting, bowling and fielding from Notts.

Notts eleven in this game was unbalanced with too long a tail, too much is expected of a flimsy top order. The Director of Cricket needs to sign a top order batsman with extreme urgency, something that needed to be in place on 6th April not 6th July! MAG

25/06

HUTTON BAGS ANOTHER FIVE AS NOTTS CLOSE DAY IN GOOD POSITION

Notts finished day 1 at Taunton only 18 runs behind Somerset with 6 first innings wickets still standing.

Somerset won the toss and elected to bat on a greenish looking pitch on a warm day of intermittent sunshine in front of a good sized crowd. There was much talk before the game about how the Kookaburra ball would behave. In the event there was plenty of help for the bowlers all day. Matt Carter made his first first-class appearance since playing in 3 Bob Willis Trophy matches in the Covid Summer in 2020 and his first in the championship since the last game in 2019 at The Oval. He came into the line up in place of Calvin Harrison. Before the game there was a minutes applause to Barnaby Webber a local cricketer from Taunton and Nottingham University student who was one of three people who was stabbed to death in the Nottingham atrocities 12 ago. Members of his family and cricket club were on the pitch alongside the two playing squads.

Hutton (Marcus Trescothick Pavilion End) and Ball opened the bowling. In the 5th over, Dickson (1) shouldered arms and played on to his leg stump to Hutton, 9 for 1. After a 3 over spell Ball was replaced by Paterson from the River End. In the 9th over Lammonby (24) edged Hutton to Clarke at first slip, 34 for 2. Bartlett on 5 had a life edging Paterson between Clarke and Carter at first and second slip both men expecting the other to go for it. Luckily it was not a costly error as in the 13th over, Bartlett (13) shouldered arms to Hutton and was given lbw, 48 for 3. Hutton (8 1 27 3) made way for Ball who had switched ends. Ball had a quiet day and bowled a four over spell and never bowled again. Carter came on for the 22nd over and bowled throughout the rest of the innings from the River End. In his second over Abell (19) edged Carter to Mullaney at slip who took a sharp catch, 88 for 4, James (3 1 9 0) replaced Ball for the 25th over but his three over spell was his sole spell of the innings. Kohler- Cadmore hit Carter for 6 over extra cover, into the Colin Atkinson Pavilion. Somerset 106 for 4 off 30 overs at lunch with Kohler Cadmore on 35 and Rew on 9.

Notts wrapped up the Somerset innings within 66 minutes after lunch. Paterson bowled the first over of the resumption, Carter picked up a wicket with his first delivery after the interval. Rew (10) was excellently caught by Montgomery diving low to his right at short leg, 110 for 5. Top scorer Kohler Cadmore shuffling across his crease was palpably leg before to Paterson for 38, 110 for 6. The wickets continued to fall, Overton (1) being caught at first slip by Clarke off Paterson,, second slip Carter deflecting the ball from second slip to Clarke, 124 for 7 in the 37th over. Davey (4) was lbw to Carter, 129 for 8 in the 40th over. Hutton returned for the 45th over. Henry (7) was bowled through the gate by Hutton, 150 for 9 in the 45th over. Aldridge reverse swept Carter for 6. He fell the next over for 35 getting a thin edge off Hutton (10.1 1 34 5) and being caught by Moores. Somerset 163 all out. Hutton who took 9 wickets against the Wurzels in the win against them in April had bowled outstandingly and gone nap for the fourth time this season and so far has taken 34 championship wickets. Carter (3 for 43) impressive on his return has now taken 23 wickets at 26.52 in five first class cricket matches at Taunton. Paterson chipped in with 2 for 42.

Overton (Marcus Trescothick Pavilion End) and Henry opened the bowling. Hameed could hardly lay bat on ball. He was bowled for a 19 ball nought by the impressive Henry, 8 for 1 in the 8th over. Davey came on for the 11th over. Notts reached tea on 22 for 1 off 13 overs with Slater on 19 and Montgomery on 4.

Henry after an excellent spell of 9 5 11 1 made way for Overton from the River End, Slater hitting him for successive offside boundaries, Slater after a poor run of form, had scored 84 for the Seconds in their innings victory at Durham University earlier this week and was now playing by far the most impressive innings he has played in 2023.

Aldridge came on from the 25th over and bowled rather loosely . Tall 19 year old off-spinner Shoaib Bashir came on from the River End. Next over, Montgomery (33) inside edged an Aldridge delivery onto his off stump via his back leg , 79 for 2 in the 31st over. Montgomery so unlucky had played a good innings including 5 boundaries, the second wicket had added 71 in 23 overs.

The in-form Clarke (12) was lbw to Bashir 94 for 3 after 34 overs. Henry returned for the following over. Slater got to his 50 off 104 balls with a quick single off Henry. James going through a poor spell with the bat fell in familiar fashion caught at first slip by Abell off Henry for a 10 ball duck, 105 for 4 in the 37th over, Notts were now in a spot of bother. Mullaney joined Slater in the middle and a rollicking late partnership saw 40 added unbroken for the 5th wicket in last 8 overs of the day. Bashir conceded 15 off the 42nd over including a six, over long off, and two boundaries for Mullaney. Overton replaced Henry with 3 overs remaining in the day as Slater (67 not out) and Mullaney (23 not out) saw Notts through to close at 1807 on 145 for 4 off 45 overs. Notts, despite having a long tail on paper, will look to build a decisive first innings lead tomorrow. MAG

Hopefully oils well that ends well...

Somerset won the toss and elected to bat.

From the XIII, both Toby and Calvin miss out. Carter apparently getting the nod over Harrison because of a mystery patch outside off stump (for right-handers), caused by an "oil spill" from a roller.

24/06 

Squad news released. Obviously Liam Patterson-White's hamstring hasn't healed, hence the inclusion of Matt Carter. Toby is on drinks duty again?

Ben Slater
Haseeb Hameed
Matt Montgomery
Joe Clarke
Lyndon James
Steven Mullaney
Tom Moores
Calvin Harrison
Brett Hutton
Matt Carter
Dane Paterson
Jake Ball
Toby Pettman

Matt Carter's debut in 2015 at Taunton

What difference the use of the Kookaburra ball will have with regards to game plan and team selection, remains unknown. Some counties are preparing to use three spinners, however.

Happy Birthday to Lionel Messi who's 36 today and old enough 

to play for Notts Outlaws now.

He would certainly add something to the pre-match footie experience, and as an added bonus would count as a domestic player.

Happy Birthday to Stuart Broad (37) as well.

No news of fitness worries or squad from TB Pravda, but the team must be traveling today.

In the last championship game played at Taunton, way back at the beginning of May, Jack Leach took three wickets in each innings. It's been relatively dry and hot since then, so you'd expect more spinner friendly outcomes now then then. That begs the question about LPW's hamstring.

Will Notts go into the game with two spinners? 

A Matt Carter return to the Championship, and to Taunton perhaps or might the coach reward either Fateh Singh or Farhan Ahmed for their success up in Durham this week (don't be daft Harry, I here you cry).

More likely if Liam is fit again, Calvin or Monty will be the second spinner designate.

This game is one the games where we can't afford to give points to our opponents, much like the game at Lord's where one of today's Birthday boys scored a massive own goal (and it wasn't Lionel that did that). 

Barring a surprise or two here's the likely squad:

Ben Slater
Haseeb Hameed
Matt Montgomery
Joe Clarke
Lyndon James
Steven Mullaney
Tom Moores
Liam Patterson-White
Calvin Harrison
Brett Hutton
Dane Paterson
Jake Ball