RESULT
Taunton, September 07 - 09, 2010, County Championship Division One
259 & 170
(T:48) 382 & 48/1

Somerset won by 9 wickets

Report

Title-chasing Somerset edge opening day

Charl Willoughby claimed 4 for 60 as Somerset bowled out Lancashire for 259 on the opening day of their County Championship clash at Taunton

07-Sep-2010
Somerset 54 for 1 v Lancashire 259
Scorecard
Charl Willoughby claimed 4 for 60 as Somerset bowled out Lancashire for 259 on the opening day of their County Championship clash at Taunton. The figures took the South African's first-class wicket tally for the season to 50, a landmark he has achieved in all of his five seasons with Somerset, and raised hopes of a victory that could keep alive their title hopes.
Only Shivnarine Chanderpaul (56) offered much resistance before the last two Lancashire wickets added 90, Gary Keedy making 34 and Sajid Mahmood 29. By the close Somerset had replied with 54 for 1, Marcus Trescothick falling to Keedy for 33.
Willoughby produced a fine nine-over opening spell from the Old Pavilion End, sending back openers Tom Smith and Paul Horton with only 32 runs on the board. It was 77 for 3 when Mark Chilton was lbw moving across his stumps to Alfonso Thomas and 126 for 4 when Steven Croft was run out by Peter Trego as he was sent back by Chanderpaul attempting a single to square leg.
Chanderpaul moved to his half-century in typically stubborn manner off 72 balls, with seven fours. But he then departed in totally uncharacteristic fashion, top-edging a reverse sweep off Murali Kartik to Trescothick at slip.
From 153 for 4, Lancashire slumped to 169 for 8 as Willoughby removed Gareth Cross and Kyle Hogg either side of Kartik pinning Luke Procter lbw. News of Nottinghamshire's struggles at Trent Bridge had reached Somerset, rekindling their hopes of a first ever Championship title. But they were then frustrated as Mahmood and Keedy added 34 for the ninth wicket.
Mahmood became the second batsman to fall to the reverse sweep after hitting six fours, but Keedy went on to share another stand of 56 with last man Simon Kerrigan, who battled away for 80 balls to make an unbeaten 16. Keedy was bowled by Ben Phillips when the new ball was taken, having faced 87 deliveries and hit five fours.
The left-arm spinner then did his side another big favour by having Trescothick caught at short midwicket by Smith just as he was looking to cut loose. Arul Suppiah and night watchman Thomas saw Somerset through to the close, but on a green looking pitch their team will need to bat well tomorrow to gain a meaningful first innings advantage.