Warwickshire trio make Somerset struggle

COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE, Edgbaston:
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY ONE: Warwickshire 2-1, Somerset 268
Warwicks 3pts Somerset 2pts
Match scorecard

Rikki Clarke has previously had spells with Surrey and Derbyshire

Rikki Clarke, Ant Botha and Chris Woakes each took three wickets as Warwickshire bowled Somerset out for 268 on day one at Edgbaston.

Opener Marcus Trescothick hit 53 but by the time he became Clarke's third victim, Somerset had slipped to 66-3.

James Hildreth (52) and Craig Kieswetter (40) provided some resistance, but both men fell to Botha before Woakes wrapped up the tail.

Warwickshire then lost captain Ian Westwood to close on 2-1.

On a sweltering day, there were early signs that the wicket - also used for an FP t20 fixture on Thursday - would offer help to the spinners.

An attritional morning session saw Arul Suppiah and Jos Buttler manage just three singles between them, with both men falling to Clarke.

Trescothick edged Clarke to Botha at second slip just after lunch before Woakes, who had bowled without luck, got in on the act by trapping Zander de Bruyn (25) lbw.

Warwickshire were then held up by Hildreth and Kieswetter before Hildreth fended one that kicked and turned from left-arm spinner Botha to Clarke at slip.

Peter Trego blasted 25 from 26 balls but the fireworks were ended by a diving Botha at deep midwicket off the bowling of Imran Tahir.

Botha was then straight back into the action, having both Kieswetter and Ben Phillips caught by Varun Chopra at short leg.

Alfonso Thomas chipped in with 27 before Woakes polished off the last two wickets with the second new ball, and there was still time for Charl Willoughby to remove Westwood.