COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE, Taunton:
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY TWO: Lancashire 259, Somerset 350-8
Somerset 7 pts, Lancashire 4 pts
Match scorecard
 Craig Kieswetter's 84 was his highest Championship score this season |
Torrential rain had the final word on the day's play at Taunton as Somerset were held up in their bid to gain ground on leaders Nottinghamshire. Craig Kieswetter (84), Peter Trego (51) and Nick Compton (49) helped Somerset reach 350-8 to open up a potentially crucial 91-run lead on Lancashire. In-form spinner Gary Keedy took 5-81, including three wickets in four balls. But home fans were left frustrated by two rain breaks which cost the loss of at least 18 overs in the day. The second of those breaks ended play for the day more than half an hour before the scheduled close. After managing just two batting points on the first day and now facing a considerable first-innings deficit, Lancashire's already slim hopes of winning the title now look even more slender. For England one-day international Kieswetter, fuelled by some meaty leg-side blows, it was his highest Championship score of the season as Somerset moved into a strong position. It was also something of a rescue act after he came in at six just before lunch with Somerset, who began the day on 54-1, having faltered to 128-4.  | 606: DEBATE |
Arul Suppiah was caught behind without adding to his overnight score, nightwatchman Alfonso Thomas was bowled playing across a delivery from Saj Mahmood and James Hildreth was then lbw trying to sweep Keedy. Then Compton, unbeaten on 41 at lunch, had added just eight to his score in the afternoon session when he looked unlucky to be judged lbw playing well forward to Luke Procter, leaving Somerset 160-5, still 99 runs adrift. But Kieswetter and Trego ensured Somerset of a first-innings lead with some typically positive batting in a sixth-wicket stand of 111 in 21 overs. Trego, fresh from his first one-day century at the weekend, moved to 50 with a swept boundary off Simon Kerrigan, before a momentary lapse in concentration saw him fall lbw to Keedy pushing forward. And Somerset were only 12 runs ahead when, on his 20th birthday, Jos Buttler went leg before first ball. Kieswetter then became Keedy's fifth victim with the first ball of his next over. But, just when Keedy appeared to have ripped the heart out of the Somerset batting, Lancashire took the new ball, allowing Murali Kartik (37no) and Ben Phillips (29) to put on a possibly match-turning unbroken 74 for the ninth wicket before the early close.
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