Nottinghamshire Beat 256 (Duckett 75, Hameed 65, Gregory 7-84) and 211 (Hameed 34, Gregory 4-64, Siddle 3-34) Somerset 173 (Davey 60, Hutton 6-45) and 129 (Rew 25, Paterson 5-46, Hutton 3-44) with 165 runs
Somerset’s brittle batting was again on display at Trent Bridge for all their winter personnel changes as they quickly fell to a 165-run defeat by Nottinghamshire.
Responsibility for the defeat must be shared, however, as it was their failure to make good use of the helpful bowling conditions on the first morning that also helped Notts gain a grip on the match that they never let go.
It was reported that Broad was keen to clinch victory before Nottingham Forest’s 4.30pm kick-off against Manchester United at the other end of Radcliffe Road. As Notts hit six overs to extend their lead to 294, things looked set to be touch-and-go, but Somerset had 80 minutes left, plenty of time for a shower, change and pre-match pint.
Broad went wicketless in the first innings as he began his carefully programmed build-up to the Ashes, and when he failed to take a wicket in a solid five-over spell with the new ball, his blank appeared to continue. But his fifth over had been his most dangerous, with Sean Dickson doing well to fend off a jumping pitch and smelling opportunity in the air, winning the right to continue.
His skin flakes were gone; his sense of opportunity was well grounded. Looking for a place in Australia’s Ashes party, Cameron Bancroft was a satisfying first wicket of the season in his sixth over, his off stub clipped as the ball left him a shadow. Broad wasn’t quite done yet and he added Dickson in his next over, a predatory diving catch at second slip by Ben Duckett, whose low center of gravity and wicket-keeper background make him one of the best slippers in the country.
For Broad, 2 for 21 out of eight was a satisfying outing. Not only had his bowling spell been followed by a Premier League encounter, his day had started in an even more exciting way – at least in the dream of BBC commentator Dave Bracegirdle, who revealed on the live stream that he had spent much of the night spent. in a contest to raise sunflowers with the English fast bowler. Unfortunately, history will never know who won because Bracegirdle woke up, but English followers can only hope that the folkloric tradition of the sunflower as a symbol of good luck will bring warmth and sunshine to his Ashes preparations.
Brett Hutton has also been a handful on this surface, darting in to bowl a tight line and nibble the ball off the seam. The result of that on the final day was three lbw decisions to add to his career best first innings run. Tom Lammonby, who fell early, and Tom Abell were beaten left-handed and right-handed by balls that appeared backward. Lewis Gregory similarly fell to a ball that didn’t do much.
Statisticians might also enjoy a 500th first-class wicket for Paterson, who like Hutton is built for such Trent Bridge surfaces. Tom Kohler-Cadmore was victim No. 499, caught by the substitute wicket-keeper, Joe Clarke, who was there due to a Tom Moores finger injury. Moores’ X-rays will be reviewed on Monday, but Notts can choose between Clarke and the 2nd XI wicketkeeper, Dane Schadendorf against Middlesex at Lord’s from Thursday.
Jack Leach’s attempt at a back-away uppercut just gave him a simple chance to point and Somerset’s chastisement came to an end when Peter Siddle drove Paterson offside. With the second day lost to rain, a responsive surface had kept interest in the game and spectators could be thankful for that.
David Hopps writes about county cricket for ESPNcricinfo @davidkhopps