Somerset sign off in style

21 September 2007

Michael Munday finished with career-best figures of 8-55 against Notts © Getty Images

Somerset needed just half an hour to wrap up their 10th LV County Championship Division Two win of the season on the third day against Nottinghamshire at Taunton.

Leg-spinner Michael Munday completed career-best figures of 8-55 as the visitors, who had resumed on 147 for seven, were bowled out for 190 to lose by an innings and 121 runs.

At the end of the match Somerset were presented with the Second Division trophy, having amassed 266 points, beating Surrey’s record of 262, achieved last season.

Notts’ consolation was that they had secured the point they needed to win promotion alongside Somerset.

Munday, whose previous best first-class figures of 6-77 were recorded for Oxford University in the 2006 varsity match, had never taken more than three wickets in a Championship innings.

The 22-year-old had overnight figures of 6-34 and in his second over of the morning he bowled Ryan Sidebottom through the gate for a duck.

Jason Gallian, who had not batted yesterday because of a back problem, then walked out to play his final innings for Notts before joining Essex.

He made 14 before driving at Munday and being comfortably caught by James Hildreth at cover with the total on 182.

It was Ian Blackwell who rounded off Somerset’s season of double promotion - they also went up in the Pro40 League - by bowling Paul Franks, whose 30 included five fours.

The Somerset team embraced each other and left the field to warm applause from supporters.

There was also an ovation for umpire Roy Palmer, a former Somerset player, who had been standing in his final first-class match.