Cooper five-for sees Somerset end with win

Tom Cooper and Jack Leach bowled Somerset to victory in their final Championship game of the season against Warwickshire at Taunton. Chasing 225 for victory, the visitors were bowled out for 207, which included 55 for Ian Bell, with spinners Leach and Cooper taking nine wickets between them to see the hosts to only their fourth win of the season.

Resuming on 20 without loss at the start of play, Warwickshire openers Varun Chopra and Ian Westwood took the total on to 43 when Westwood, pushing forward to Alfonso Thomas, was caught by wicketkeeper Luke Ronchi.

New batsman Bell played a classic cover drive to see up the 50, but when part-time bowler Cooper came into the attack from the River End, the complexion of the game changed.

The offspinner, who before this game had taken 1 for 150 from 47 overs this season, proceeded to take a wicket in each of his first three overs. Chopra was bowled for 33 looking to sweep, Laurie Evans caught by Ronchi playing back, with the total on 83, and Freddie Coleman stumped by Ronchi, four runs later.

Cooper wasn't done yet and in the 40th over he had Tim Ambrose well caught at square leg by Lewis Gregory, which made Warwickshire 89 for 5. By lunch Warwickshire had moved onto 104 for 5 off 46 overs, with Bell unbeaten on 43 and Clarke five not out, while Cooper has taken 4 for 13 .

Leach struck with the first ball after lunch when he had Clarke caught at mid wicket by Peter Trego for 5. Bell hit a straight six off Cooper to go to his half-century, which came off 124 balls with 9 fours and a six, but two balls later the bowler got his rewards when the England batsman played on aiming back-foot shot.

Keith Barker struck some lusty blows, including a straight six off Leach in the 57th over into the building site, to bring up the 150, but two overs later he went down the wicket and was stumped off the left-armer for 46.

Jeetan Patel took Warwickshire closer to victory, but on 27 he was caught and bowled by Leach, making the visitors 197 for 9. The final wicket of the match fell to Leach when he had Oliver Hannon-Dalby caught by Cooper and Warwickshire were all out for 207, off 64.1 overs, giving Somerset victory by 17 runs.

Cooper ended with a career best 5 for 76. Leach claimed 4 for 74 and match figures off 11 for 180. Somerset took 24 points and Warwickshire six.