Date-stamped : 16 May95 - 10:29 CC: Northamptonshire v Somerset, Northampton, 11-15 May 1995 ====> Day 1, 11 May 95 Northants lose early initiative - Neville Scott First day of four: Northants (75-3) trail Somerset (242) by 167 runs FOR a Somerset side winning the toss after arriving without Andy Caddick and Andre van Troost the hope, perhaps, was that this would become a battle royal between two of only four wrist spinners ever to have been signed as overseas players. Being reduced within two hours to 68 for six by seam alone was hardly the plan. When early wickets tumble at Northampton, eye- brows tend to rise. Certainly, there was movement off the seam, though nothing lav- ish, and rare balls kept lower than others. But in essence Northamptonshire`s fast quartet bowled straight with pace and purpose to a full length on a pitch with bounce. Paul Taylor`s superb opening spell (two for 11 in 11 overs) was of a quality to claim wickets against any opponents and John Hughes, his new-ball partner, now has the fitness to allow his height and strength to generate discomforting speed. Like Leicestershire and certain ales, moreover, Somerset are no- toriously bad travellers. Only one of seven championship wins last year came away and average home totals of 380 contrasted with 267 elsewhere. Yet they can be a cussed side of much character. As Northamp- tonshire let the pressure slip, failing, as counties too often do, to maintain discipline through consecutive sessions, Graham Rose, who hit a six and 10 fours in his 84, and Simon Ecclestone prospered. Almost before the threat had been grasped, they were advancing at four per over. Rose pulled and cut anything short and Ecclestone reached an impressive first championship fifty with a drive off Anil Kumble which should have been caught at mid-off. It is Ecclestone`s curious fate to be known as the brother of last year`s Fantasy Cricket winner. Further innings of this ma- turity will rightly reverse that. When the last four wickets eventually went in 40 minutes after tea, Northants were left 25 overs to negotiate before the close. Alan Fordham went back to Andy Hayhurst`s third ball, which hur- ried on, but both Russell Warren and Tim Walton betrayed their inexperience against bounce as both fell victims to balls from Rose caught by wicketkeeper Rob Turner. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk) Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com) ====> Day 4, 15 May 95 Northants on top after early blitz - Neville Scott Northants (297 & 291-3) bt Somerset (242 & 343) by 7 wkts WE CAN be categoric: never in championship history has a game been won with two successive sixes 16 minutes before players elsewhere had even taken the field. The 10 o`clock start, agreed to give Somerset time - ample, it proved - to fly to Belfast for today`s Benson & Hedges tie, seemed to throw Allan Lamb, who blocked the opening maiden. He then added 66 in 32 balls. Finding the 83 they needed without further loss, Northamptonshire took their last 79 runs from 8.4 overs. At this early stage, they stand at the head of the table. For a decade, Northants have had formidable top-order batting power which has, more often than not, underperformed. But they now have a strength in depth which only Lancashire or Kent can rival. Age and injury have realistically turned Kevin Curran into a batsman who bowls. David Capel batted at seven in this game, and Jeremy Snape, who made 176 for the 2nd XI last year, at eight. Given that keeper David Ripley and opener Richard Montgomerie both nurse broken fingers, six batsmen, including the dropped Mal Loye, may soon contest two or three places. Yet, for the side to finish above seventh demands unbending discipline, never a Northampton strong suit, from an unexceptional attack. Somerset would relish such problems. Though Andy Caddick`s prog- nosis is more optimistic than was feared, Mushtaq Ahmed, the pivotal bowler, has conceded 625 runs for his 10 championship successes. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk) Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com)