Trego leads Somerset fightback

Peter Trego forces through the off side during his entertaining innings of 86

A counter-attacking season’s-best of 86 from Somerset’s Peter Trego put the LV County Championship title-chasers back in contention against Nottinghamshire.

The all-rounder smashed 11 fours from 108 balls to help the visitors post 252 at Trent Bridge, adding 90 for the ninth wicket with Andrew Caddick, who finished 35 not out.

The two batting points could prove crucial in the Division One run-in, with Somerset beginning the match just three points behind leaders Notts with a game in hand.

Left-arm seamer Charl Willoughby then claimed two wickets in an over after rain intervened, as Notts reached 46 for two in reply at the close of the second day’s play with more bad weather forecast.

Somerset resumed their innings on 143 for seven with Trego unbeaten on 17, although he soon saw ovenright partner Alfonso Thomas return to the pavilion in the second completed over, leg before to Charlie Shreck.

The wicket prompted Trego to go on to the attack, and the 27-year-old produced some powerful strokes off front and back foot to take the initiative away from the home side.

At times his pulls and upper-cuts drove the Notts bowlers to distraction, with Shreck, in particular, losing his discipline and ill-advisedly attempting to bounce the right-hander.

The tactic never seemed likely to work on a slow pitch and it took the entry of England spinner Graeme Swann to bring an end to Trego’s fun.

Sensing the chance for his first hundred since making an unbeaten 113 against the same opposition at the end of last season, Trego instead holed out to a running catch by Mark Wagh at deep midwicket.

Swann, who missed the first day’s play after being released from England duty at Cardiff, quickly followed it up by bowling Willoughby, leaving the Notts openers to negotiate two overs before lunch.

Rain prevented the innings from resuming until 5pm, with Bilal Shafayat surviving an appeal for a low catch at cover and a drop by Wes Durston at gully.

Opening partner Will Jefferson was not so fortunate as he edged Willoughby to wicketkeeper Craig Kieswetter immediately after the ball had been replaced, and nightwatchman Andre Adams drove loosely to gully four deliveries later.