Somerset Rothesay County Championship Div 1 at Taunton Draw 13 points Report

 

Day 4

MATCH DRAWN

As expected, Somerset and Notts drew their opening championship fixture at sunny Taunton yesterday.

In front of a good-sized Easter Monday crowd, Somerset added 156 in 30.1 overs to their overnight score in the opening session. Patterson-White, who was to bowl unchanged until the declaration from the River End and Pennington opened the bowling. Overnight pair Kohler-Cadmore and Rew started circumspectly. Kohler-Cadmore reached his 100 off 168 balls with a four through mid-wicket off Pennington in the 58th over. Kohler-Cadmore (104 off 175 balls, 14x4) miscued an attempted shot over cow corner and the ball went skyward, Patterson-White taking the return catch; 231 for 2 in the 61st over. The second wicket stand of 224 in 57 overs was Somerset's highest in matches against Notts, eclipsing the 216 added by Arul Suppiah and Nick Compton at Trent Bridge in 2012. Four overs later Rew (122 off 184 balls; 14x4, 2x6) was lbw to Patterson-White; 242 for 3. Stone came on for the 68th over.

Lammonby was dropped on 14 a difficult diving chance to his right by Patterson-White at cover off Stone in the 72nd over. Abell hit Patterson-White for six over mid-wicket in the 73rd over. Abell (42) was caught at long on by Haynes off Patterson-White, 322 for 4 in the 79th over. James replaced Stone for the 80th over. Although Notts were well up with the bowling rate, the partisan and somewhat one-eyed home crowd started a slow handclap as Hameed had discussions with the bowler and altered the field. All a bit embarrassing. Lammonby reached 50 off 70 balls with an offside single off James in the 82nd over. Next over, he hit Patterson-White for six over long on. Notts took the new ball with Somerset 363 for 4 off 83.3 overs. In what turned out to be the last delivery before lunch, Lammonby was caught at deep mid-wicket by Slater off Patterson-White for 69 (off 80 balls, 7x1, 1x6). Somerset 370 for 5 off 84.1 overs at lunch with Goldsworthy on 14.

Despite leading by a massive 379 runs and with only 65 overs remaining, Somerset surprisingly elected to bat on after lunch. Goldsworthy hit James for a six over backward square leg in the 86th over. Overton hit James for six over long on. Somerset finally declared on 407 for 5 after 88 overs with Goldsworthy on 33 and Overton on 18. Patterson-White after his marathon spell had figures of 35-1-175-4. James (11-1-71-0) was particularly expensive. Rob Lord not given a bowl on the last day.

Notts needed 417 off 60 overs at 6.95 RPO. Overton (Trescothick End) and Ogborne shared the new ball and bowled with much more venom than we saw from the Notts bowlers earlier in the day. Hameed and Slater, however, stood firm. Leach and Pretorius came on for the 9th and 12th overs respectively. Hameed hit Leach for a straight six in the 15th over. Ball came on for the 20th over with Slater reaching his 50 off 74 balls with a four off his hips to fine leg. At tea Notts were 86 for 0 off 26 overs with Slater on 60 and Hameed on 23. The match heading for a draw.

However a mini collapse got the home fans excited. In the 28th over, Slater (60 off 103 balls, 11x4) gloved a short ball from Ogborne to Kohler-Cadmore at backward fine leg, 90 for 1. Four balls later, Hameed’s (27) somewhat scratchy innings ended when he was lbw to Leach; 90 for 2. McCann looked uncertain against Leach’s slow left arm spin so much so, Clarke turned down an easy single to stay on strike against the former England spinner. Later in the same over, Clarke (12), playing back, was bowled off stump by Leach, 104 for 3 off 35 overs. Ball replaced Ogborne for the 38th over and McCann on 11 pulled a legside ball to Rew behind the stumps who dropped the chance. McCann and Haynes were both looking relatively comfortable. Thomas came on bowling slow left armers in the 44th over. At 1717 at the end of the following over, the sides shook hands with 15 overs remaining with Notts 140 for three off 45 overs with McCann on 20 and Haynes on 18.

The pitch was the ultimate winner, both teams taking 13 points from the fixture and both stand third in the fledgling table. Notts with their three main seamers missing and Duckett expected to return will have a much stronger eleven when Glamorgan visit Trent Bridge in three days’ time. MAG

Day 3

Alfie Ogborne second new ball rush sees

 SOMERSET SEIZE COMPLETE CONTROL

Somerset completely dominated day 3 leading by 223 runs with nine second innings wickets remaining when stumps were drawn at 1905.

There were showers overnight and also a heavy downpour around 0900 hours. Somerset's covering consists of matting over the pitch and tarpaulin on top, prehistoric to say the least. As a result the ball was zipping around from the off this morning.

Play commenced on time on a day which should have consisted of 101 overs. Haynes (55 off 98 balls, 8x4) fell to the fifth delivery of the day,  caught behind by Rew off Overton (Trescothick End); 220 for 4 in the 68th over. A heavy shower stopped play at 1112 with Notts 226 for 4 after 69.5 overs with Clarke on 76 and Verreynne on 0

Play recommenced at 1135 with three overs lost but with the basic covering arrangements it meant more damp had got on to the pitch than what would have not happened if a conventional tractor and a proper cover had been used. Clarke and Verreynne struggled along and added 38 in 14 overs. Verreynne was dropped on 3 by Kohler-Cadmore at first slip off Pretorius. The new ball was taken with Notts 267 for 4 after 80 overs. Ogborne took two wickets in four balls in the 82nd over. Verreynne was lbw to an in-swinger for 25 (268 for 5) and then three balls later Clarke was bowled via his pads for 92 (off 176 balls, 12x4; 269 for 6).

Rain stopped play at 274 for 6 off 82.4 overs and an early lunch was taken.

Play recommenced at 1330 with a further five overs lost. The sun became a constant feature of the day from that point onwards.  In the 86th over, James (10) was caught behind by Rew, chasing a widish delivery, a third successive wicket for Ogborne (3 for 81);  284 for 7 in the 86th over. Pretorius returned for the 91st over and a legside two for Patterson-White took Notts to 300. Patterson-White was dropped on 12 at second slip, an easy chance to Overton off Ogborne in the 94th over. Patterson-White (17) was strangled down the legside caught by keeper Rew off Pretorius (4 for 65); 314 for 8 in the 95th over. Patterson-White appeared to think the ball had deflected straight off his pad without any deflection from his bat. [the replays on the stream would tend to support LPW POV]

Ball replaced Ogborne for the 98th over. Leach came on for the 101st over. Lord (22), who batted sensibly, was caught at first slip by Kohler-Cadmore off Ball, 332 for 9 in the 102nd over. Pennington (5) was caught at first slip by Kohler-Cadmore off Ball. Notts 338 all out off 103.2 overs with Stone 11 not out. Somerset led by nine runs. Notts had only added 120 runs to their overnight score for the loss of seven wickets. Very disappointing. The weather gods had heavily favoured the home team with the interruptions and the damp pitch but they bowled well and took full advantage. As they were latter to do with the bat.

The whole of Somerset innings was played under a cloudless blue sky albeit with a brisk westerly wind blowing. Stone (River End) and Pennington shared the new ball. Thomas was dropped on 5 by Patterson-White at first slip off Stone in the third over. But the left hander departed in the following over plumb lbw to Pennington for 6; 7 for 1 in the 4th over. Sadly, this was the last dismissal of the day as the Notts attack looked relatively impotent on what was now a flat deck. Rew and Kohler-Cadmore cashed in and added an unbeaten and chanceless 207 in 51 overs.

Lord replaced Stone for the 9th over. Patterson-White bowled the last over before tea. Somerset 32 for 1 off 12 overs with Kohler-Cadmore on 9 and Rew on 13 at the interval.

Stone and James bowled straight after tea, as Somerset accelerated, passing their 50 in the 15th over. Patterson-White came on for the 21st over, Rew hitting him tor six over mid wicket. Rew reached his 50 off 69 balls with a swept boundary again off Patterson-White. Pennington returned for the 26th over, a single for Rew bringing up the Somerset 100. Rew hit Patterson-White for six over square leg in the 31st over. Kohler-Cadmore got to his 50 off 81 balls hitting three successive boundaries off Pennington in the 32nd over. Notts' main bug bear was the state of the ball but despite numerous attempts it was never changed.

Stone came back for the 34th over. The Somerset 150 came up in the 38th over via a driven four by Rew off Stone. Stone though did beat the bat twice, but Notts had gone too many overs without ever really looking like taking a wicket.

Lord replaced Stone for the 42nd over. Rew, against his favourite opponents, reached his 100 off 147 balls with a off driven four off Patterson-White in the 51st over. Somerset closed on an imposing 214 for 1 off 54 overs with Rew on 108 and Kohler-Cadmore on 94. Both batting exceedingly well and without giving a chance.

A dry, sunny but windy day is forecast tomorrow. I expect Somerset to go for a thrash first thing to ensure that a Notts win is out of the equation and declare just before lunch. Somerset would have to bowl extremely well, or Notts bat poorly for a home victory to happen on what is now a lifeless deck. MAG

Day 2

NOTTS MOVE INTO A PROMISING POSITION ON SHORTENED DAY

After a pleasing second day at dank and cool Taunton, Notts reached the another premature close 129 runs behind Somerset with seven first innings wickets standing.

Dillon Pennington having bowled so well with little reward yesterday cashed in today taking all four wickets to fall as Somerset added 55 runs to their overnight score. 

The home side reached their 300 in the 91st over via an offside boundary by Leach off Stone. Three overs later,  Leach (11) was caught in the covers by Slater miscuing a shot off off Pennington (Trescothick Pavilion End); 309 for 7. Pretorius (11) going for a drive was bowled middle stump by a well pitched up delivery from Pennington; 331 for 8 in the 100th over. Overton pulled a long hop from Lord to the mid wicket to reach his 50 off 71 balls. Lord bowling too short too often today. Ogborne (2) played on to Pennington,  339 for 9 in the 102nd over. Jake Ball (2) became Pennington's fifth victim (for 65) when he has caught at third slip  by Haynes. Somerset 347 off 103.5 overs with Overton stranded on an undefeated 60 off 84 balls (10x4).

Overton (River End) and left arm seamer Ogborne shared the new ball with Notts openers Hameed and Slater making a confident start. After three expensive overs for 17, Ogborne was replaced by Jake Ball. Notts reached lunch on 34 for 0 off 11 overs with Hameed on 11 and Slater on 23.

Ball and Pretorius bowled after lunch. Notts reached 50 in the 16th over via a four through backward point by Hameed off Ball. Hameed hit a further two boundaries off the over which went for 12. Slater (30 off 40 balls) was bowled by Pretorius in the following over the ball keeping low and seaming in; 59 for 1. Hameed (31) smashed Pretorius low down to Lammonby at point who took a smart catch; 72 for 2 in the 21st over. Ogborne replaced Ball for the 22nd over. Three overs later, Pretorius made way for the returning Overton. Clarke hit successive boundaries off Ogborne with Notts going to three figures in the 32nd over. Rain stopped play at 1509 with Notts 114 for 2 off 32.3 overs with McCann on 27 and Clarke on 23. An early tea was taken.

Play recommenced at 1538.  McCann (31) edged the impressive Pretorius to first slip where Kohler-Cadmore took the catch; 128 for 3 in the 36th over. The third wicket stand worth 56 in 15 overs. Haynes joined Clarke and saw Notts safely to the close adding an unbroken 90 in 32 overs as batting got easier against the older ball. Ogborne came back for Overton in the 41st over. A cover driven boundary by Clarke off Ogborne took Notts passed 150 in the 45th over. There was a double bowling change for the 47th and 48th overs with Leach being introduced and Ball returning. Bad light and then light rain stopped play at 1658 with Notts 171 for 3 off 53 overs with Clarke on 48 and Haynes on 28.

Play restarted at 1713. Clarke got to his 50 off 99 balls with a single off Ball in the 54th over. A four through third man by Haynes off Ball saw Notts to 202 for 3 off 60 overs. Overton returned for the 62nd over and his first delivery was hit through extra cover by Haynes for four to reach his 50 off 75 balls. Dark clouds returned and the light was very poor when Pretorius returned for the 65th over. Play was suspended for bad light at 1804 with Notts 218 for 3 off 67 overs with Clarke on 70 and Haynes on 53. Play was called off for the day 14 minutes later with 13 overs lost from the ration.

Very much Notts' day. Pretorius (15 5 33 3)  was a handful throughout and Overton also bowled a number of good balls. The rest of the Somerset bowling was distinctly average, Ball's pace well down on what we witnessed during his Notts heyday.

A very cold, windy but sunny day is forecast for the West Country tomorrow. MAG

Day 1

SOMERSET ABELLY REPEL NOTTS' EARLY BREAKTHROUGHS

Somerset had the better of the opening day of the 2026 championship season at a gusty Taunton. After being inserted they closed on 292 for 6 off 89.1 overs before rain prematurely stopped play at 1800.

Rob Lord was preferred to Brett Hutton who had missed pre season due to a calf injury. Also missing from the Notts Eleven were O’Neill, Tongue and Duckett. Lewis Gregory was absent for Somerset.

Stone (River End) and Pennington shared the new ball in helpful overcast conditions. In the fifth over Stone removed Kohler-Cadmore (4) off stump via a seaming delivery: 7 for 1; his first championship wicket for Notts since 2024. Pennington got a delivery to bounce, Lammonby (3) thin edging him to Verreynne, 14 for 2 in the 10th over. Notts well on top at this stage.

Stone and Pennington bowled excellently with the new ball with Somerset 20 for 2 off 12 overs when James replaced Stone. Batting then became easier. Josh Thomas, playing in only his third championship game, hit James for two boundaries, nine off his opening over. Lord had bowled five overs for 19 from the Trescothick End when he was replaced by the returning Pennington for the 24th over. The following over Patterson-White replaced James and with his sixth delivery had left hander Thomas (40) caught by McCann at first slip, 66 for 3 after 25 overs. The third wicket had added 52. The floodlights were then switched on. McCann bowled the final over before lunch. Somerset 78 for 3 off 30 overs at the interval with James Rew on 28 and Abell on 2.

Stone and James shared the ball after lunch but once again despite plenty of playing and missing, James Rew and Abell proved to be a huge thorn to Notts as they put together a fourth wicket partnership of 140 in 38 overs; this after their stand of 313 at Trent Bridge last July.

Lord replaced Stone for the 41st over and bowled with much better rhythm from the River End.  Pennington replaced James for the 44th over. James Rew had a lucky escape on 48, when Lord thought he'd had him caught behind. James Rew got to his 50 off 112 balls with a single off Pennington in the 52nd over. Patterson-White replaced Lord for the 53rd over. Abell reached his 50 in 92 balls with a cover driven boundary off Patterson-White. Two balls later, Abell hit the slow left armer for a six over wide long off. In the penultimate over before tea, Rew (64 off 139 balls, 6x4), on the sweep, got a bottom edge to Patterson-White with Verreynne running from behind the stumps to take the catch via the left hander's boot, in front of the wicket; 206 for 4 in the 63rd over. Somerset at tea were 208 for 4 off 64 overs with Abell on 80 and Goldsworthy on 0.

The cidermen added a further 84 runs in dank and cold conditions in the final session. Stone and James were back bowling together after tea. Abell hit Patterson-White for a straight six in the 74th over to move into the nineties. Lord was bowling well and picked up a deserved wicket having Goldsworthy (18) caught behind by Verreynne; 245 for 5 in the 77th over. Somerset obtained their first batting point in the following over via a lofted four through mid on by skipper Craig Overton off Patterson-White. A quickfire single by Abell off Patterson-White saw him to his 100 off 173 balls in the 80th over.

Pennington and Stone took the new ball with Somerset 264 for 5 off 81 overs. With the second delivery of the new ball Pennington had Overton dropped at third slip on 14 by Haynes. Abell (108 off 186 balls, 9x4, 2x6) was caught behind by Verreynne off Stone; 286 for 6 in the 87th over. Nightwatchman Jack Leach (4 not out) joined Overton (32 not out) in the middle session and they saw Somerset to an early close with 47 balls not bowled. A brief shower proved terminal, the frozen umpires Pollard and Lloyd immediately calling off proceedings.

Notts had bowled well for most of the day, in spite of the incessant brisk south westerly wind, with Pennington deserving much more than his 1 for 44 off his 19.1 overs but Somerset rode their luck and Abell in particular gritted it out. With the wicket offering pace and bounce the home side will feel they are well placed going into the second day. MAG

Peter Moores has announced the following squad for the visit to Taunton:

Haseeb Hameed c

Ben Slater

Freddie McCann

Joe Clarke

Jack Haynes

Kyle Verreynne X

Lyndon James

Liam Patterson-White

Rob Lord

Brett Hutton

Olly Stone

Farhan Ahmed

Dillon Pennington

Tom Giles

Brett, Farhan and Tom Giles miss the final XI

JUST DESERTS

Peter Moores on EMT starts 16 minutes in with dear old Colin

The key: "let the player make their own mistakes"

Peter Moores deserves all of the plaudits that are aimed at him for last seasons achievements, but that Championship win did take him ten years, remember...

There was no instant impact and he only survived on the back of the silverware won by the existing, pre-Moores squad ... remember how dire performances were in 2019? Those low points fortunately do prove to highlight and magnify the heights of last September. Now we start again.

I'm not going to stick my neck out with any season predictions here[it's a long season and I'm not Nostradamus], but needless to say I hope Notts win a cleansweep of all competitions in 2026.

However, if Notts rediscover that confidence, have the same collective form and the same attitude/swagger as they had at the backend of 2025, then the Championship is a done deal. But, if we lack any one of those three attributes then the house of cards will come crashing down.

The beige suede hooded jacket needs to be back in the wardrobe on Friday, most counties will start the season on level points and any slip-ups on an always difficult journey to Taunton will see the vultures gathering.

There won't be a Ben Duckett speeding to join the boys in the West Country nor a learned Josh Tongue, a squad already without our favourite Australian.

Probably included will be Olly Stone, someone that enjoyed the winning celebrations and queued up for a medal just the same as those players that had actually had a part in the Championship season. Did Fergus get a medal and what about the now ovine Monty: 1 knock, 75 runs, 1 catch; did he get a medal?