Record breaking stand between Blackwell and Dutch leads remarkable Somerset recovery

Ian Blackwell and Keith Dutch joined forces to rescue Somerset from a disastrous start in their Division One contest with bottom-of-the-table Northamptonshire at Wantage Road.

The visitors plunged to 35-6 in the 17th over after acting-skipper Michael Burns opted to bat first, and Northants looked well on their way to securing a first win of the season. But Blackwell (103) and Dutch (84) piled on 182 for the seventh wicket, and enabled Somerset to reach 299 all out.

Their partnership, occupying 49 overs, equalled Somerset's record for the wicket against Northants, set by Stuart Rogers and Harold Stephenson at Frome in 1950.

"I was very pleased with my innings. It was hard work at the start, but it gradually got easier and I managed to hit the bad balls and avoid nicking the good ones!" Blackwell told CricInfo's Richard Walsh at the close of play.

The hosts replied with 28-1 at the close, their total boosted by five penalty extras when Somerset's Peter Trego - fielding as substitute for Blackwell without the permission of the umpires - touched the ball during the second over.

Blackwell cracked 18 fours in his 151-ball knock, making the most of an escape on 62 when Paul Taylor spilled a head-high chance at midwicket off Tony Penberthy. And Dutch, who hit 15 boundaries in a stay of nearly four hours, survived a stumping opportunity with 72 to his name.

It was a far cry from the first session when Darren Cousins (4-100) and Taylor (3-57) tore into Somerset's top-order with the new ball, Cousins removing Peter Bowler, Burns himself and Matthew Wood in the space of 19 deliveries.

After Blackwell and Dutch did their stuff, more handy runs came from Jason Kerr (32) and Richard Johnson (20) as the home attack lost its edge.

Somerset coach Kevin Shine was delighted with the change in fortunes.

"At 35 for 6 things didn't look good for us at all, then 'Blacky' and 'Dutchy' came together and between them managed to pull it back for us. They both played invaluable innings for us," Shine said.

"The first session will be vital for us tomorrow. The wicket has got some cracks appearing in it and isn't going to improve as the game wears on."