Nottinghamshire 256 (Duckett 75, Hameed 65, Gregory 7-84) and 211 (Hameed 34, Gregory 4-64, Siddle 3-34) beat Somerset 173 (Davey 60, Hutton 6-45) and 129 (Rew 25, Paterson 5-46, Hutton 3-44) by 165 runs
Somerset's brittle batting was again in evidence at Trent Bridge for all their winter shuffle of personnel as they subsided rapidly to a 165-run defeat against Nottinghamshire.
Responsibility for the defeat needs to be shared, however, because it was their failure to make good use of helpful bowling conditions on the first morning that also contributed to Notts gaining a grip on the match that they never relinquished.
Nottinghamshire's seam attack bundled out Somerset for only 129 in 38.2 overs on an April surface that nibbled throughout with Stuart Broad, Brett Hutton and Dane Paterson, who finished with 5 for 46, all making telling contributions.
Somerset's reshaped top order has yet to fire this season They could find consolation in Lewis Gregory's 11 for 148 in the match and his renewed confidence in his fitness, but also the stout-hearted batting approach of their young wicketkeeper, James Rew, whose scores of 18 and 25 are hardly going to get him headlines, but who showed an aptitude for a backs-to-the-wall fight that will hold him in good stead.
Broad had been reported to be anxious to wrap up victory before Nottingham Forest's 4.30pm kick-off against Manchester United on the other side of Radcliffe Road. As Notts batted on for six overs to extend their lead to 294, it appeared to be touch-and-go, but Somerset were all trussed up with 80 minutes to spare, ample time for a shower, change and a pre-match pint.
Broad went wicketless in the first innings as he began his carefully programmed build-up to the Ashes, and when he failed to take a wicket in a solid five-over spell with the new ball, his blank seemed set to continue. But his fifth over had been his most dangerous, with Sean Dickson doing well to fend off a leaping delivery, and sniffing opportunity in the air, he won the right to continue.
His dander was up; his sense of opportunity was well founded. Cameron Bancroft, who is seeking to win a place in Australia's Ashes party, was a satisfying first wicket of the season in his sixth over, his off stump clipped as the ball left him a shade. Broad was not quite finished yet and he added Dickson in his next over, a predatory diving catch at second slip by Ben Duckett, whose low centre of gravity and wicketkeeping background makes him one of the best slippers in the country.
For Broad, 2 for 21 in eight was a satisfying outing. Not only had his bowling spell been followed by a Premier League encounter, his day had begun in even more exciting fashion - at least in the dream of the BBC commentator Dave Bracegirdle, who revealed on the live stream that he had spent much of the night in a sunflower-growing competition with the England fast bowler. Sadly, history will never know who won because Bracegirdle woke up, but England followers can only hope that the sunflower's folkloric tradition as a symbol of good luck will bring warmth and sunshine to his Ashes preparations.
Brett Hutton has also been a handful on this surface, scuttling in to bowl a tight line and nibble the ball off the seam. The result of that on the final day was three lbw decisions to add to his first-innings career-best. Tom Lammonby, who fell early, and Tom Abell were left and right-hander beaten by balls that seamed back. Lewis Gregory fell in the same fashion against a ball that did not do quite as much.
Statisticians could also delight in a 500th first-class wicket for Paterson who like Hutton is built for such Trent Bridge surfaces. Tom Kohler-Cadmore was victim no 499, caught by the stand-in wicketkeeper, Joe Clarke, who was there because of a finger injury to Tom Moores. Moores' x-rays will be assessed on Monday, but Notts may have a choice between Clarke and the 2nd XI wicketkeeper, Dane Schadendorf against Middlesex at Lord's, beginning on Thursday.
Paterson's 500th was Craig Overton, who duly collected a pair in the match, his first-ball duck being followed up by a fourth-ball duck this time around. Overton was skilfully scooped up, left-handed, by the substitute, Calvin Harrison, at third slip. It looked clean enough on the replays, but Overton's oration did not immediately appear to be a speech of congratulations. He then offered a further homily to spectators in front of the pavilion about how to play the game and was jeered off the field. Strangely, Overton had come out to bat at No.9, behind Josh Davey which for all Davey's 60 in the first innings was also cause for an enquiring eyebrow.
Jack Leach's attempt at a back-away uppercut just contrived to sky a simple chance to point and Somerset's chastening day came to an end when Peter Siddle drove Paterson into the off side. With the second day lost to rain, a responsive surface had kept interest in the match and the spectators could be grateful for that.
