Somerset v Derbyshire, Day 2

Derbyshire openers Steve Stubbings and Mathew Dowman seized the initative for their county against a depleted Somerset attack at Taunton on the second day of the PPP healthcare County Championship first division match.

They guided Derbyshire to 101-0 at the close in response to Somerset's modest total of 240 on a good batting track.

Somerset went into the game disappointed not to have the services of pace star Andrew Caddick, forced to sit out the action after a request from the England management.

Caddick bowled only 24 overs in the first Test victory over Zimbabwe at Lord's and Somerset believed that relatively light workload should not have stopped him from facing Derbyshire.

In the event, their worst fears were realised after tea on the second day. With highly-rated left-arm seamer Matt Bulbeck also sidelined by a back problem, Somerset's attack offered little threat to Stubbings and Dowman.

The two left-handers scored at four-an-over and both produced some attractive drives through the covers and midwicket.

Former Essex pace bowler Jamie Grove suffered more than anyone in the Somerset attack, as his six overs cost 45 overs, with 14 of them the result of seven no balls.

After a five-wicket haul on his Somerset debut at Leicestershire a fortnight ago, Grove was eager to make an impression on his home debut. But the 20-year-old conceded ten runs in his opening over and never settled down after that.

Veteran Graham Rose proved more economical from the Pavilion End, with his ten overs going for 28 runs. And he could count himself unlucky not to get a wicket when Dowman, on 32, edged to Marcus Trescothick at second slip, only for the normally reliable fielder to let the chance slip.

Showers during the morning had prevented play starting before 1.55pm. And with the amount of time lost already, it may still require contirvance between the captains to conjure a positive result.

Nevertheless, Derbyshire captain Dominic Cork can be pleased with his side's efforts so far.

Somerset, who resumed on 117-4, soon lost Rob Turner for 14 to a catch at short leg by Dowman off Tim Munton.

But the home county were then encouraged by a stand of 51 in 12 overs between Peter Bowler and Keith Parsons.

Bowler, who has made two centuries against his former Derbyshire team-mates since he joined Somerset six years ago, moved comfortably to 57 before he edged to wickekeeper Karl Krikken in Matthew Cassar's opening over, the 63rd of the innings. His 127-ball innings had contained six fours.

Parsons struck eight boundaries in his fluent, 53-ball innings of 47 before he departed lbw to Cassar, as he played across a straight delivery.

Trevor Smith accounted for Graham Rose, bowled off a bottom edege, and Steffan Jones, caught at slip, in the next over.

And then Ian Blackwell, who had struck 16 in only eight balls, was the last man out when he pulled Cassar to Paul Aldred on the deep square leg boundary.

Cassar, who claimed a career best 6-76 against Yorkshire last week, finished with 3-38 from 4.5 overs, while Smith returned 3-51.

Pace bowler Kevin Dean was off the field all day for Derbyshire due to illness.