Nottinghamshire succumbed to their third LV County Championship defeat of the season after going down to a ten wicket defeat to Somerset at the County Ground, Taunton. Asked to follow-on, they subsided to 190 all out in their second innings, leaving the home side to knock off the required 13 runs for a maximum 24 point haul.
 
After a spot of very light early morning drizzle the conditions were much fresher at the start of the day as Samit Patel and Chris Read looked to build from their overnight 278-5.

The second new ball was taken as soon as it became available and Willoughby struck immediately with Read edging behind to fall
for 80.

Samit had reached his century earlier in the same over, hitting the South African-born left armer for two boundaries and a single but was then trapped in front of his stumps by Alfonso Thomas. Despite having reached his first championship century since September 2008 the batsman was clearly disappointed at not having gone on and built a substantial individual score.

Willoughby then quickly rapped up the innings, Adams edged behind attempting an expansive drive, Franks was trapped in his crease and Shreck lost his off stump.

Darren Pattinson ended on 7 not out and had the pleasure of hoisting Murali Kartik away for a huge maximum on the legside. Willoughby finished with figures of 6-101.

Notts had fallen for 339 – 29 runs away from avoiding the follow-on but perhaps more significantly just eleven away from the 350 mark and the extra bonus point that would have lifted them to the top of the table.

Marcus Trescothick and Arul Suppiah then fooled everyone by sprinting off the field as if to prepare themselves for batting but once inside the pavilion the decision to make Notts bat again was confirmed.

The decision looked justified when Matt Wood, after his first innings heroics, fell first ball lbw to Willoughby.

Alex Hales and Mark Wagh took the visitors to lunch at 28-1 but the opener fell shortly afterwards, edging Kartik behind and Patel quickly followed.

Wagh and David Hussey looked to counter-attack with the former hitting Willoughby for four exquisite boundaries in succession but then was sent on his way by umpire Lloyds despite pushing forward to a de Bruyn delivery.

Hussey had reached 30 before shouldering arms to the same bowler and losing his off stump leaving Ali Brown and Read to guide Notts to tea on 155-5.

Any hope of extending the play into the fourth day was quickly evaporated as Alfonso Thomas ripped through the lower order to finish with a five wicket haul.

Notts had scraped their way past the 178 target needed to make their hosts bat again but when Shreck lost his off stump for the second time in the day it meant that only 13 were required for victory.

Marcus Trescothick and Nick Compton, deputising for the injured Suppiah, knocked off the required runs against the new ball attack of David Hussey – bowling seam up from a long run – and Alex Hales.

An understandably disappointed Mick Newell admitted his side hadn’t done well enough but felt that Somerset executed their game plan perfectly.

“We knew what they would be about,” said Newell.

“They prepare a dry pitch and hope to bat first and get Kartik into the game later on. We didn’t make a good enough fist of it in our first innings.”

With only five points accumulated Notts now lie just behind Yorkshire in the table.

“We should have certainly made this an exercise in points gathering,” said Mick.

“Had we been able to save the follow-on then I’m sure we would have saved the game and got at least ten points out of the match. Everyone keeps talking up the Yorkshire game but Somerset are now right in the picture but Durham and Lancashire will also think they can go on and win the title also. I’m just happy that after ten games played we have gained more points than any other side.”

On individual performances the Notts Director of Cricket praised Samit Patel, Matt Wood and Chris Read for their first innings batting but agreed that an all-round improvement will be expected next week.

“There are a number of players who haven’t given us enough in this game and they will need to improve on Tuesday.”