Date-stamped : 14 Jul97 - 10:21 Somerset prosper on steady approach By Peter Deeley at Trent Bridge Somerset (227-6) bt Notts (197-7) by 30 runs SOMERSET shook off the disappointment of their mid-week NatWest Trophy defeat by Warwickshire with a comfortable victory that keeps their interest in the Sunday title alive. They were heavily indebted to the steadiness of the leg-spin- ner Mushtaq Ahmed, whose two wickets cost a meagre 26, and to an excellent unchanged opening spell from Graham Rose. His brace of wickets came at an even more frugal 20 runs. Curiously, though, Nottinghamshire could boast the two indi- vidual performances of the match. Paul Pollard, opening the in- nings, hit 87 off 104 balls, including six fours, and Chris Tol- ley finished with four for 24. Tolley has made some critics eat their words in recent weeks. Described recently as "hardly" a first-class player, he per- formed a crucial role in Nottinhamshire`s unexpected midweek Tro- phy de- feat of Surrey, taking three prime wickets. Here he had figures at one stage of four for 10 in his first five overs, including the wickets of Piran Holloway, who chopped on, and then Robert Turner, caught at extra cover, in successive de- liveries. Tolley then took a fine running catch to dismiss Michael Burns, who top-scored for Somerset with 60 off 87 balls, hitting three boundaries and a six in a stay of two hours. The crucial innings from the visitors` viewpoint was provided by Keith Parsons. He came in at the end and scored an unbeaten 52 off 30 balls and added 57 with Rose off the final four overs. Nottinghamshire`s early batsmen were tied down for too long to present a credible challenge. Only when Tolley came to the crease did the home side have any semblance of hope. Tolley and Pollard added 57 in 10 overs before the left-han- der, tiring visibly after 2.25 hours at the crease, was caught behind when Andrew Caddick returned. Tolley went on to round off a week of per- sonal achievement with a brisk 36 before he, too, was caught off Caddick, who finished with three wickets. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/) Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com)