Keedy all but ends Somerset dreams

Gary Keedy's 5-56 ensured regular scalps for a needy Lancashire at Taunton

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Gary Keedy bowled Lancashire ino a winning position at Taunton to extinguish Somerset’s flickering LV County Championship title hopes.

The home side were bowled out for 227 in their second innings, with left-arm spinner Keedy claiming 5-56 and Oliver Newby taking 3-55, in match figures of 7-127, his best for Lancashire. Ian Blackwell top scored with 55.

Needing 182 to win, openers Mark Chilton and Paul Horton gave the visitors the perfect start with a century opening stand.

Chilton reached fifty off 71 balls, with a six and 6 fours. They closed on 122 without loss, needing a further 60 tomorrow.

Chilton was unbeaten on 76 and Horton on 43. Both had looked untroubled in perfect batting conditions as spectators basked in glorious late summer sunshine.

Somerset begun the day on 66 for two, just 20 runs ahead, and needed a big innings from at least one of their remaining batsmen.

Only 12 had been added when James Hildreth fell lbw to Glen Chapple for 22.

Soon it was 96 for five when Zander de Bruyn (33) edged Keedy to wicketkeeper Luke Sutton and Peter Trego got a leading edge aiming to hit Keedy over mid-on, instead giving a catch to Newby at mid-off.

Blackwell and Craig Kieswetter took the total to 130 for five at lunch and their partnership was worth 71 when Kieswetter was pinned lbw by Newby for 20.

Much rested on Blackwell, who reached his half-century off 92 balls, with 6 fours, passing 1,000 championship runs for the season in the process.

But on 55, he failed to move his feet and wafted at a delivery from Newby to get a regulation nick through to Sutton.

Steffan Jones made only a single before giving Sutton his eighth catch of the match trying to sweep Keedy, but Andy Caddick offered more stubborn resistance, facing 41 balls for his seven and helping Alfonso Thomas add 27 for the ninth wicket.

Caddick looked unlucky to be judged lbw stretching well forward to Keedy before last man Charl Willoughby hit the spinner over long-on for six.

Thomas had batted well for his 28 off 68 balls, but had to take chances at the end and fell to a catch close in trying to reverse sweep Keedy.