Somerset Specsavers CC1 at Taunton Loss

Day 4

SOMERSET GO TOP AS NOTTS TAKE JUST TWO POINTS

Somerset went top of the championship with a six wicket victory with 70 minutes to spare at Taunton today. Notts fought well in their second innings to get to a huge 505 but will rue their abject first innings batting performance. Notts batted for 50 minutes today adding a further 37 runs for the loss of their last two wIckets. Another 30 runs and a further 30 minutes batting could have made a difference to the game dynamics. This match though was a fine advert for four day cricket. Notts battled well today with the ball on a pitch now lacking pace but still taking turn. Matt Renshaw (61) for the second time in the match made big runs but once again rode his luck struggling against Carter and Patel. Tom Moores behind the stumps was struggling somewhat keeping to the spinners but try as they might Notts could not take the wickets quick enough. At tea some of the Somerset fans were still panicking with 85 further runs required with six wickets still standing. However the experienced Davies and skipper Abell knocked the runs off in 50 minutes. Notts took a paltry two points from the fixture and face further headaches without skipper Mullaney for the next two championship fixtures. The batting despite their second innings heroics remains a big concern to Notts.

Play got under way in bright sunshine with Carter and Fletcher intent on crease occupation. Then Matt Carter hit van der Merwe for two legside sixes, the second one bringing up the 500 in the 140th over and hitting a steward in the Somerset Stand on the head. After 40 minutes Carter (82) edged Davey bowling from the Somerset Pavilion End into Davies gloves, 34 runs had been added for the ninth wicket. Luke Fletcher was then bowled by Davey for 21. Milnes 3 not out. Notts 505 all out, Davey 4 for 76 and Van der Merwe 4 for 138.

Somerset needed 248 to win in a minimum of 78 overs. Fletcher (Somerset Pavilion) and Milnes (River End) opened the bowling but openers Renshaw and Byrom made untroubled progress, 21 for 0 after six overs. Mullaney came on the seventh over and with his eighth ball Ed Byrom (22) tickled him and Moores took the catch, 29 for 1. Mullaney had a three over spell but then Carter bowled the last over before lunch. Somerset 46 for one off 13 overs with Renshaw 15 not out and Bartlett 9 not out.

It was Fletcher and Carter in tandem after lunch and in the 17th over Renshaw hit Carter for a six over square leg. For the ninth over lunch Patel replaced Fletcher from the River End. The 50 partnership for the second wicket was achieved in 16 overs. Somerset were accelerating chances their arm against the spinners the 100 coming up in the 28th over. The captain brought himself on for the following over from the Somerset Pavilion End. Renshaw reached a streaky 50 off 91 balls by edging Mullaney through slip for 4. Bartlett was dropped on 32 by Moores off Mullaney diving to his left. Carter came on from the Somerset Pavilion End and straight away got a wicket. Going for a pull shot Bartlett (43) but only succeded in playing on, 125 for two. Matt Renshaw never looked comfortable against spin and finally Carter got him caught low down by Ross Taylor at first slip, Renshaw 61, 154 for three. On the stroke of tea, Hildreth was well caught at short leg by Root off Carter for 21, Somerset 163 for four at the interval with Abell on 9.

After the interval Somerset took control. Steven Davies hit Carter for three fours in one over to relieve the pressure. A few overs later Abell repeated the dose taking three more fours off Carter. Next over Patel got hit for two fours by Davies. The game was now over as a contest. Matt Carter then made way for Root and Libby replaced Patel. The winning runs came at 1649 with Davies on 44 and Abell on 46. Notts had showed great fight but came up short. MAG
Day 3

MOORES WEIGHS IN WITH MAIDEN TON AS NOTTS STAGE HEROIC FIGHTBACK 

This match continues to fascinate as Notts closed on 468 for eight, leading by an unlikely 210 runs with two wIckets in hand. In sweltering conditions Notts added 356 runs today for the loss of eight wickets. None of the eight wickets to fall needed a fielder; 5 leg before decisions and three bowled being the mode of dismissals. It was another one of Notts youngsters that stood out with Tom Moores hit a superb maiden first class century being agonisingly out in the last over of day. His 103 was full of attacking strokes and came off 117 balls with 16 fours. At times he rode his luck miscuing shots but what stuck out was his power of his stroke play and his natural self confidence, he is clearly a rapidly improving cricketer. He was given a deserved standing ovation as he left the field. The Notts innings was full of battling innings and a weary Somerset attack wilted in the heat on a wicket where the ball is still turning. Tomorrow is expected to be cooler and likely to be more bowler friendly. If Notts could chisel out a few more runs Somerset will be put under a bit of pressure. One key to the large total was the fact that both openers fired and 145 was added in the opening partnership. For the third game in a row Jake Libby got runs and Mullaney can consider himself unfortunate to being given leg before six short of a deserved ton. Nash and Patel both got to half tons as they added 108 with Nash getting a Notts best of 66. The feature of this partnership was the ability of two experienced batsman to combat the turning pitch and very vociferous home crowd who once again turned out in good numbers. Somerset's next home championship game by the way starts on August 9th. Nash and Patel fell in quick succession as Somerset were heading for a three day victory. The bowlers though were tiring and young guns Moores and Root scored at five an over whilst adding 118 runs in a day where 100.1 overs were bowled in the hot sun.

Libby and Mullaney faced an opening attack of Gregory and Craig Overton. Josh Davey (Somerset Pavilion) came on for Gregory and in his second over (the 41st of the innings) had Libby palpably leg before for 69 (122 balls, 12 x 4). The first wicket had added 145. The Notts 150 came up in the next over via an edged four through the slips by Mullaney off Overton. Craig Overton had bowled a seven over spell and was replaced by Roelof van der Merwe from the River End. The trigger finger of umpire Neil Bainton adjudged Mullaney leg before for the second time in the game, van der Merwe the fortunate bowler as the skipper appeared to have got some bat on the ball. Mullaney had made 94 (141 balls, 17 x 4, 1 x 6), 179 for two. Then two overs later, Ross Taylor (5) attempting to cut van der Merwe and lost his stump, 191 for three. Notts had lost three wickets in the first 20 overs of the day as Craig Overton changed ends. The Notts 200 came up in the 53rd over. Bess then came on for a twirl, Notts at lunch 231 for three, Nash 39 not out and Patel 19 not out.

After lunch the struggle continued with plenty of playing and missing and ooows and arrs from the partisan Somerset crowd. Samit Patel glanced a four to bring up the 250 in the 72nd over. Notts then took the lead via a four through extra cover by Patel off Bess. Nash got to his maiden first class 50 for Notts via an off side four off Bess, it took 117 balls. The new ball was then taken after 80.1 overs with Notts 267 for three. Patel hit an offside four off Overton to bring up his 50 off 113 balls. The 100 partnership between Nash and Patel took 37 overs. The crowd had gone silent. Shortly afterwards Josh Davey replacing Gregory, bowled Chris Nash for 66 (143 balls with 10 fours), 299 for 4 in the 89th over. The fourth wicket stand worth 108 runs. Next over Patel was leg before to van der Merwe for 55, 299 for 5. A four by Wessels through backward point off Davey brought up the Notts 300. Tea was taken on 320 for 5. Notts though were to add a further 148 runs in the final session.

Thirteen minutes after tea Wessels(19) became another leg before victim to van der Merwe, 338 for 6. Tom Moores became the fifth Notts batsman to get to his 50 with a swept four off Bess coming off 72 balls. A further two fours came off the over which went for 15. The runs were flowing the 400 coming up after 115 overs.Billy Root was dropped on 23 at first slip by Hildreth off Gregory, a regulation chance, that cost valuable runs. Bess changed ends and a four through the vacant third man by Root brought up the 100 partnership in 22 overs. The 450 then came up in over 125 bowled by Davey. Twenty minutes before the close, Bess picked up his first wicket with Root chopping on for 36. The seventh wicket had added 118 runs; splendid stuff. A four through fine leg saw Tom Moores to a magnificent maiden first class century off 106 balls with 16 fours. But in the last over Moores fell leg before to the perspiring Bess who had a difficult day with 2 for 115 for 27.2 overs. Moores trudged off wearily but his innings had exceeded all expectation. The hyperactive and continuously appealing Roelof van der Merwe was the pick of the Wurzel bowlers with 4 for 115. Notts will hope that Carter and Patel outshine the Somerset spin twins tomorrow. MAG
Day 2

CARTER 5-FER BUT NOTTS FOLLOW-ON

after Notts top order blown away in opening burst

Somerset took control of the game at Taunton today. Having been bowled out for 392 they took the first five wickets of Notts innings in eight overs either side of lunch in overcast conditions with Overton and Gregory proving a real handful. Notts despite a fighting 74 from Ross Taylor were bowled out for 134 and followed on 258 runs behind. Notts made a much better fist of it second time round in bright sunshine with openers Mullaney and Libby both on 54 as Notts closed on 112 for 0 after 30 overs. Notts still trailing by 146 runs will have to bat for a further 3 to 4 sessions to make a game of it. The Somerset support seamers Abell and Davey should not pose much threat. Van der Merwe was extracting much more turn than England selectors new star turn Dom Bess.
So far, Matt Carter has been the best spinner of the match. Notts though have been at a disadvantage with so many of seamers absent. Batting wise they need to have a rethink about who bats at three with Chris Nash now averaging just 11.

Milnes (River End) and Fletcher (Pavilion End) opened the bowling first thing in the morning. After two overs from Milnes, Matt Carter having taken four wickets from the New Pavilion End came on from the River End. Early doors England new boy Dom Bess monopolised the run scoring. Luke Fletcher bowled a five over spell and then Patel came on. The 50 partnership for the eighth wicket was achieve with Bess having contributed 34, but then departed edging Patel to Taylor at first slip, 340 for eight. Notts missed out on their first bowling point of the season as the 110 over score was 341 for eight. Cricket is a strange game having hardly bowled a bad ball, Carter bowled a long hop and Craig Overton's eyes light up but he only succeded in finding Matt Milnes on the mid wicket ropes, the fifth wicket for Carter, Overton gone for 8, 359 for nine. Josh Davey lamped Carter for six over mid wicket. After adding 33 for the last wicket Patel removed Davey (14) via a leg before. Somerset 392 all out, Steven Davies 92 not out. Matt Carter 5 for 113.

Notts had a tricky 20 minutes batting session in overcast conditions before lunch. Mullaney took 10 off Gregory's first over from the New Pavilion End. It took Craig Overton three balls to remove Libby; a good ball moving away found the edge of Libby's bat, Davies taking a simple catch behind the wicket, 10 for one. Next over Gregory got one to jag in and keep low, Chris Nash plumb leg before the second duck of the innings, 15 for two. Mullaney (19) was unlucky to be given out leg before as Overton picked up his second wicket, the ball coming in too much and appearing to be drifting down leg side, 19 for three. Notts added a further 4 runs all off the bat of Ross Taylor as they limped to lunch on a perilous 23 for three.

More ducks than at Slimbridge

After lunch it got no better, Samit Patel plumb leg before to a ball that kept low, the third wicket for Craig Overton and the third duck of the innings, 27 for 4. Gregory then removed Wessels' (0) off stump to another ball that kept low, 28 for five. The Notts 50 came up in the 15th over. Overton had taken 3 for 21 off 8 overs and was replaced by Josh Davey. Tom Moores (10) surprisingly batting above Billy Root never looked settled but added 40 with Ross Taylor before falling leg before to Tom Abell's brisk medium pacers. Two balls later Billy Root became the fifth duck of the innings edging Abel to Renshaw at second slip, 68 for seven. Craig Overton returned to bowl the 30th over from the River End. Next over Roelof van der Merwe came on, Taylor took a single to bring up his 50 (7 x 4) and two balls later Fletcher departed leg before for 8, 100 for eight. The farce continued as Taylor called for a quick single to mid off but Carter was slow to set off and was run out for 1 by an accurate throw from Dom Bess, 103 for nine. Ross Taylor having kept the bowling then hit Overton for successive leg side sixes the second a massive hit into the top tier of the retirement complex. Five wides followed and then off the last ball another gargantuan hit, this time over long on, 23 off the over. Tea was delayed but Taylor was out in the second over of added time as he got a top edge to Overton as Davies took the catch. Taylor out for 74 his best innings for Notts off 89 balls with seven fours and three sixes, he had received next to no support from his other 10 batting collegues . Notts 134 all out. Craig Overton bowling with more pace than any other bowler in the match finished with 4 for 52, being able to take more advantage of the uneven bounce in the wicket particularly with the new ball. Captain Tom Abell had a very easy decision to enforce the follow on with the Cidermen leading by a massive 258 runs.

Notts had 30 overs to bat after tea as the predominantly overcast conditions had now been replaced by a near cloudless sky and much easier batting conditions. The new ball in the second innings was once again taken by Gregory (Pavilion End) and Overton (River End). Notts though made a much better start standing on 42 for 0 after eight overs as Tom Abell and Josh Davey came on. In the eleventh over Notts reached 50 with Mullaney on 33. After 16 overs of Notts second innings Dom Bess got his first bowl of the game. However the new kid on the block was not at his best going for 23 in his first three overs. Van der Merwe was however much more of a threat. Jake Libby got his 50 off 63 balls with nine fours. The 100 came up in the 28th over. Mullaney got to his 50 with a four off Bess it came off 84 balls with 10 fours. Notts closed on 112 for 0 at 1803 with Somerset bowling their 30 overs in just 96 minutes. MAG


Day 1
RENSHAW TON TURNS SOMERSET'S ADVANTAGE

An understrength Notts bowling attack put in a wholehearted bowling performance after losing an important toss at sunny Taunton today. The home side finished on 307 for 7 after 97 overs with Matt Renshaw, after a tentative start against the new ball, scoring 106, he was well supported by captain Tom Abell with 57 and Steven Davies with an unbeaten 59. The undoubted star performer for Notts was once again Matt Carter who, bowling with good flight and control, finished with 4 for 81 off 27 overs. Matt Milnes can be pleased with his first day as a first teamer with 1 for 38 off 14 overs. Steven Mullaney after his call up to be skipper for the England Lions in their upcoming triangular one day series marshaled his attack well, Samit Patel going for 3.8 RPO having a rare off day. With the wicket expected to take increasing turn during the match, Somerset are probably better placed but Notts fought back well in the last session taking three wickets with the new ball.

Both teams clearly wanted to bat first as Somerset won the toss and elected to bat. A much changed Notts without Broad, Ball and Gurney, had 23 year old right arm seamer Matt Milnes making his debut and Billy Root and Matt Carter making their first championship appearances of 2018. A good sized crowd including a healthy away contingent saw Fletcher (Pavilion End) and Milnes (River End) opened the bowling with mist in evidence over the distant Quantock Hills. After a four over spell costing 10 runs, Milnes made way for skipper Mullaney. Fletcher bowled an excellent spell of 8 overs for 11 repeatingly beating the ball but without getting the edge, Milnes then switched ends. The fifty came up in the 22nd over via an edge four through the slips by Renshaw, next ball bowler Mullaney had more bad luck as Renshaw Chinese cut him for four. Carter came on from the Pavilion End in the 23rd over. Next over Notts finally had a change of fortune as a pain staking fourteen from Ed Byrom was ended via a leg before decision, Mullaney the bowler. Somerset 62 for one. Matt Renshaw then hit Carter for six over long on. Renshaw reached 50 off 77 balls. Patel came on just before lunch as Somerset were 80 for 1 off 30 overs with Renshaw on 52 and Bartlett on 9. Notts had bowled well without much luck. What they were missing was a bowler with a bit of extra pace to exploit the conditions.

The Somerset 100 came up in the 35th over. Renshaw then swept Carter for six over square leg taking advantage of the short boundary on the Somerset Stand side of the ground. In the same over, Bartlett (29) was caught at first slip low down by Taylor, 117 for two. Four overs later Hildreth (1) was out in identical fashion as Carter picked up second wicket, 127 for three. The wicket was already taking some turn. Patel who was not at his best was replaced by Mullaney, but Renshaw was batting well. Renshaw got to 100 in 165 balls, but was out shortly afterwards. Charging down the pitch to Carter he was deceived in the flight and lost his leg stemp. Renshaw had made 106 off 171 balls with 12 fours and 2 sixes. The fourth wicket partnership with Tom Abell had added 49. Abell and Davies added a further 35 in the 40 minutes remaining before tea. Somerset 211 to 4 off 68 overs had scored131 runs for the loss of three wickets in the afternoon session.

After that Notts slowed the over rate down to the annoyance of some of the partisan locals. Nash was given two overs and Root one. The new ball was taken at 1637 with Somerset 250 for 4 at 80 overs. The new ball was taken by Fletcher (Pavilion End) and Mullaney (River End). With the third over with the new ball Fletcher got Abell to edge to the Wessels at first slip, 258 for five. Abell 57 off 125 balls with 6 fours and 1 six. Gregory hit Mullaney for a legside six. With the church bells ringing and after four overs with the new ball Mullaney was replaced by Milnes.Next over Carter came on and with his fifth ball Gregory (16) was bowled off his pads attempting a sweep shot, 288 for six. There followed a champagne moment as Matt Milnes got his first wicket for Notts. Getting the ball to move off the seam he removed van der Merwe's off stump, the right hander out for a three ball duck, 289 for seven.Davies got to his 50 off 107 balls. Somerset got to close without further loss as Notts bowled one over the standard 96 over ration. MAG