Barrow plays down recalling James Taylor after drop

Nottinghamshire 195 for 8 trail Somerset 312 by 117 runs
Scorecard

Somerset enjoyed the better of the exchanges on a rain-shortened second day of their LV= County Championship match against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge.

The visitors picked up six wickets in the 44 overs of play that were possible, reducing the home county to 195 for 8, still 117 runs adrift. Heavy overnight and morning rain prevented any play before 3.25pm but under improving skies, and with a drying breeze, the home side resumed their first innings from 57 for 2, with Brendan Taylor and James Taylor at the crease together.

Lewis Gregory soon parted them, earning his side a first bowling point as he trapped Brendan Taylor in his crease for 22, the third lbw decision of the innings. Riki Wessels only made 8 before nicking an away-swinger from Jim Allenby into the clutches of Marcus Trescothick at second slip.

The situation might have been even worse for Nottinghamshire but for a great show of sportsmanship from Alex Barrow, Somerset's wicketkeeper, who dived to gather a leg side nick from James Taylor from the bowling of Tim Groenewald.

Umpire Tim Robinson, at the bowler's end, raised the finger as Somerset appealed loudly but after a period of consultation it appeared that Barrow acknowledged that he hadn't taken it cleanly and the batsman was allowed to remain.

A round of applause broke out for Barrow's actions but Taylor couldn't capitalise, bowled shortly afterwards by Groenewald for 45.

"I don't think it's anything to be talking to the media about. If you don't think it's out, you don't think it's out and that's that," Barrow said. "It's nothing to write home about. I don't think you should cheat and I find it weird that I'm applauded for it - if it's not out, it's not out"

Taylor said: "I hit the ball and was caught down the leg side and fortunately the keeper dropped it, although the umpire thought he'd caught it. It was very good from the keeper - he acknowledged what he'd done. I thought he'd caught, so I was on the walk off but he was honest enough to say he'd dropped it, which was good of him."

Craig Overton followed up his first day heroics with the bat, where he scored 55 from 31 deliveries, by taking the final three wickets of the day.

The big fast bowler showed remarkable athleticism to cling on to sharp caught and bowled offerings to send back both Chris Read and Luke Wood. In between, he uprooted Vernon Philander's middle stump to walk off with figures of 3 for 27 to his credit.

Samit Patel survived until the close, with 35 to his name, with Nottinghamshire still five runs short of securing their first batting point.