Notts prosper as wickets tumble

Darren Pattinson took full advantage of helpful conditions at Taunton

Sixteen wickets fell on a green first-day Taunton pitch as LV County Championship Division One leaders Nottinghamshire took control against Somerset.

The hosts were bowled out for only 106 after losing an important toss, with Darren Pattinson claiming 5-40 and Andre Adams 4-39.

In reply, Nottinghamshire struggled to 108 for five before Samit Patel (56) and Chris Read (33 not out) put together a stand of 74.

By the time bad light brought play to a close with seven overs left they had reached 185 for six, a lead of 79, with Peter Trego taking 3-36.

England and Wales Cricket Board pitch inspector John Jameson made it clear there was no question of him reporting the pitch, reasoning swing and some poor batting had accounted for many of the wickets.

Somerset never recovered from losing openers Justin Langer and Marcus Trescothick with only two runs on the board.

Langer was pinned lbw by a Charlie Shreck inswinger, while Trescothick was well caught by Mark Ealham low to his left in the gully off Pattinson.

Zander de Bruyn, Trego and Ian Blackwell fell in quick succession to make it 25 for five as Adams and Pattinson bowled effectively in tandem under heavy skies.

James Hildreth looked to have got a start, but ruined some hard work with a weak waft outside off stump to be caught in the slips for 13 off 47 balls. Then Craig Kieswetter got a good one from Adams and was comprehensively bowled on the forward defensive.

Alfonso Thomas (19) and Steffan Jones (27 not out) counter attacked briefly, but Somerset were dismissed in only 39.1 overs, a demise largely of their own making.

Matt Wood, returning to his former club, edged to slip off Andrew Caddick for a duck when the visitors began their reply.

But Bilal Shafayat and Mark Wagh took the score to 67 before Shafayat was bowled by Trego for 25 just before tea.

Wagh pulled Trego for six in moving to 46, with six fours, but fell in the same over, chipping the seamer to Thomas at square-leg, who took a good diving catch.

Adam Voges and Graeme Swann fell cheaply, but Patel produced the best batting of the day in moving to a half-century off 72 balls, with seven fours, before edging a cut off Thomas and seeing the ball carry to de Bruyn at third-man.

Read provided good support in what could prove a vital stand, having come together with Nottinghamshire only one run ahead and in danger of losing their early advantage.