Willoughby keeps lid on Lancashire

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Charl Willoughby's 4-60 haul underlined his importance to Somerset's season run-in, before Lancashire rallied to 259

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Charl Willoughby’s four wickets gave Somerset hope of exerting pressure on Lancashire as they chase the win at Taunton that would blow open the LV= County Championship title race.

The South African's figures of 4-60 took his first-class wicket tally for the season to 50, a landmark he has achieved in all of his five seasons with Somerset, and raised hopes of a victory that could keep alive their hopes of an elusive first pennant.

Only Shivnarine Chanderpaul offered much resistance with 56, before the last two wickets added 90 to boost Lancashire to 259. Gary Keedy made 34 and Sajid Mahmood 29.

By the close Somerset had replied with 54 for one, Marcus Trescothick falling to Keedy for 33.

Willoughby produced a fine nine-over opening spell from the Old Pavilion End, removing openers Tom Smith and Paul Horton cheaply.

The scoreboard read 77 for three when Mark Chilton was lbw moving across his stumps to Alfonso Thomas and 126 for four when Steven Croft was run out by Peter Trego as he was sent back by Chanderpaul attempting a single to square-leg.

Chanderpaul moved to his half-century in typically stubborn manner off 72 balls, with seven fours, but he departed in totally uncharacteristic fashion, top-edging a reverse-sweep off Murali Kartik to Trescothick at slip.

From 153 for four, Lancashire slumped to 169 for eight as Willoughby removed Gareth Cross and Kyle Hogg either side of Kartik pinning Luke Procter lbw.

News of Nottinghamshire’s struggles at Trent Bridge had reached Somerset. But they were then frustrated as Mahmood and Keedy added 34 for the ninth wicket.

Mahmood became the second batsman to fall to the reverse-sweep after hitting six fours, but Keedy went on to share another stand of 56 with last man Simon Kerrigan, who battled for 80 balls to make an unbeaten 16.

Keedy was bowled by Ben Phillips when the new ball was taken, having faced 87 deliveries and hit five fours.

The left-arm spinner then did his side another big favour by having Trescothick caught at short midwicket by Smith just as he was looking to cut loose.

Arul Suppiah and nightwatchman Thomas saw Somerset through to the close, but on a green pitch their team will need to bat well tomorrow to gain a meaningful first-innings advantage.