by Michael McCann
at The County Ground

Somerset scored over 400 in the final innings to defeat Nottinghamshire by two wickets in their Division One County Championship match in Taunton yesterday.

Resuming on 274-5, 62 from Jim Allenby and 79 from Peter Trego helped put on 116 for the sixth wicket, allowing the hosts to win in a tight encounter.

The Somerset chase was built through five of the top seven hitting half-centuries, allowing them to move into sixth place in the County Championship, ahead of Hampshire, Notts and Worcestershire.

152 from Brendan Taylor and with half-centuries from Riki Wessels and Michael Lumb helped Notts hit 410 in their first innings.

Alfonso Thomas was comfortably the most potent bowler in an ageing Somerset attack, taking 5-73 before the hosts were routed for just 200 all out.

Tom Abell made 76 but lacked support, with three ducks in the innings as Matthew Carter bowled superbly to take 7-56.
Leading by 210 on the first innings, Notts were all out for just 190 through an improved team bowling effort from the home side though Samit Patel made 46 from just 34 balls.

Chasing 401 to win, openers Marcus Trescothick and Tom Abell hit-half centuries, sharing a partnership of 129 before Johann Myburgh hit 56 at number three.

James Hildreth and Tom Cooper fell cheaply as Somerset fell from 197-1 to 243-5 before Allenby and Trego led a recovery.

The pair benefited from a struggling Notts seam attack — Luke Wood, Ben Hilfenhaus and Jake Ball all went wicketless in the second innings.

Eventually Patel had Allenby LBW for 62 and Trego was caught by Mullaney, who had a good match in field, from the bowling of Carter for 79.

Though Tim Groenewald was also dismissed, leg before to Patel for 13, new signing Michael Bates guided Somerset home with a sensible 14 not out.

Accompanying the wicket-keeper was Abdur Rehmann, who just before lunch hit three boundaries in four balls to seal the win — — two cuts through third man and a thwack through square leg off Carter.