Injuries hamper Nottinghamshire

Nottinghamshire, looking for their second LV= County Championship title in three seasons, were second best against title outsiders Somerset on the third day of the rain-affected match at Taunton.

The visitors were bowled out for 152 and then their threadbare attack was punished by James Hildreth (63 not out) and Jos Buttler (39), who put on 91 for the fourth wicket. Hildreth hit 11 fours while Buttler had five fours and also hit Graeme Swann for six over mid-on. Somerset closed on 187 for 6, a lead of 31.

Nottinghamshire were compromised by the absence of their most effective bowler, Andre Adams, and their left-arm paceman Harry Gurney. Gurney went off with a leg injury after bowling six overs and Adams, who tweaked a hamstring, limped through 14 overs before hobbling off. Adams also dropped Hildreth, on 16, at midwicket off Swann - who took the wicket of Peter Trego before the close.

Somerset had lost Marcus Trescothick to a second ball duck. But, earlier, Trescothick the fielder had a better time of it. His five catches at second slip equalled the county record for an outfielder. The visitors, who started the day on 48 for 3, lost six more wickets in the morning session before being bowled out 15 minutes after lunch in just 54.4 overs.

In the second over of the day, Adam Voges pushed at a delivery that swung away and Trescothick took his first catch of the morning. Nottinghamshire were in trouble but captain Chris Read played a typical, counter-attacking innings, while James Taylor dug in.

Read hooked Gemaal Hussain for six to raise the half-century stand in nine overs and, next ball, lofted the bowler over mid-on for four to bring up the 100. At 120 for 4 Abdur Rehman, who was making his Championship debut for Somerset, came into the attack and took a wicket with his second ball.

Rehman bowled a ball of full length to Taylor who attempted to sweep and was given out leg before wicket. Read cut Rehman for successive boundaries to reach 50 from 63 balls, with 10 fours, but then he edged Hussain to Trescothick. It was the start of a collapse which saw Nottinghamshire lose their last five wickets for 14 runs.

Hussain, who had looked harmless at the river end, where he bowled three overs for 23 runs, switched to the old pavilion end where he had figures of 6-4-6-4. Swann was one of his wickets, edging a loose drive to give Trescothick his fifth catch.