v Somerset LV Championship at the County Ground, Taunton 2014

Match Drawn

D4 Notts used up 70 odd overs on the last day, between showers, in making 322/4 declared.Phil Jaques 150*, Samit Patel 75 Riki Wessels 40*

D3 Nottinghamshire 440 (Patel 132, Read 96, Thomas 5-127 Gregory 4-80) and 97 for 2 (Jaques 55*) leadSomerset 402 for 9 dec (Petersen 94, Trego 86, Trescothick 72, Carter 3-90) by 135 runs 

BBC Radio Nottingham's Dave Bracegirdle:

"A typically durable innings from Phil Jaques ensured that Notts didn't lose all of the initiative on a day when Peter Trego altered the momentum with a belligerent 86 for the home side.

"Jaques has looked better and better with each innings for his new county.

"The hope is that his unbeaten 55, his third consecutive half-century, may lead to a really substantial score on the final day."

Phil Jaques third consecutive fifty for Notts. 

Runs draws them in at Taunton

On a flat deck, this match already appears to be heading for a draw.

In front of an excellent first day crowd in glorious sunshine, Somerset won the toss and inserted Notts. Ball and Shahzad replaced Gurney and Fletcher. Mullaney played on for 22, and then Lumb was caught in the gulley after inside edging on to his pads , 45 for two. Kieswetter badly dropped Jaques on both 16 and 18, the second one running back towards the Marcus Trescothick Stand where the South African appeared to have the catch but as he fell his elbow hit the turf and the ball spilled out, credit the keeper for admitting his error to the umpires. Jaques as he had done against Warwick rode the storm and after very hesitant start Taylor also looked in fine form as 112 were added for the third wicket. Gregory the most impressive bowler on day 1 picked up his second wicket as Jaques (65) edged to slip. James Taylor fell to the same bowler four overs later as he edged the Plymouth born seamer to Kieswetter, Taylor 60 came off 115 balls with nine fours. Jamie Overton clearly has great pace but was erratic most of the day and like Andy Carter has the tendency to bowl too short too often he did though beat Wessels (9) for pace as he edged into Kieswetter’s gloves, 194 for five, and Notts were some trouble on a wicket that was already flattening out. Notts limped to tea ay 200 for five.

In the last session of day 1, Patel and Read counter attacked superbly by adding 182 runs for no wickets in 32 overs. The Somerset attack was deposited to all points of the compass as both players played chanceless innings. Patel reached his ton off 129 balls and stood on 116 not out at the close with Read on 95 not out. The opening day saw Notts very much on top after an uncertain start on 382 for five.

Notts though failed to build on their supremacy as their long tail was once again exposed as they lost their remaining five wickets for 58 runs on sunny morning on the Bank Holiday Monday. Thomas bowling from the Old Pavilion End picked up four of these. Read after adding one to overnight score edged him as Keiswetter picked up his third catch. Read’s 96 was his best innings for two seasons and came off 108 balls with 17 fours, it’s a very good sign that the captain has started in 2014 in such fine form with the bat.  Patel and Read had added 196 in just 36 overs.

Siddle hit a bright and breezy 14 before being caught at backward point, 408 for seven. Patel’s superb innings came to an end in Thomas’s next over as he also edged into Kieswetter’s gloves, his 132 came off 179 balls with 22 fours, a very responsible innings which deserved its ovation. In came the rabbits, Ball was bowled by Thomas for 12 and Carter was comprehensively bowled as Notts closed on 440 all out, a very satisfying score after being put in. Gregory the best bowler on display finished with 4 for 80 and old hand Thomas had figures for five for 127.

Notts were dealt an early blow in Somerset’s reply as Ball limped off after two overs with a leg injury. Siddle bowling accurately but without great pace had Chris Jones bowled for 20, 58 for one. Compton (25) departed with the score on 105 as he edged Mullaney bowling from the Ian Botham Stand end to Wessels at first slip. The wicket though was now extremely flat, Alviro Petersen hit Patel who briefly replaced Mullaney for two huge sixes. It came as a surprise when Trescothick edged Siddle to Read for 72. Hildreth fell leg before to preserving Carter for 12, 180 for four. The light was now closing in, Petersen (62*) and Kieswetter (32*) saw Somerset safely to the close, taken six overs early. Somerset are 237 for four, still 203 runs behind. Mullaney who had bowl due to Ball’s injury bowled very accurately for 17-1-37-1. Shahzad on his seasonal debut posed little threat on the flat deck through 16 wicket-less overs. A few showers are expected today with a dry Wednesday on offer. A draw though looks very much on the cards.MAG