By D J Rutnagur at Taunton
First day of four: Somerset 253-5 v Warwickshire
BOTH broad-shouldered and left-handed, Simon Ecclestone and Marcus Trescothick brought cheer to a dank, truncated day and succour to Somerset with a rollicking partnership of 190 which had its roots in a situation as unprepossessing as the weather.
Somerset, who had been put in by Brian Lara, were 52 for four when the newly-arrived Rob Turner was struck over the elbow by Ed Giddins and retired to make way for Trescothick.
From the manner in which they set about their rescue operation, you would not have guessed that Ecclestone, who hit 14 fours and fell just six short of his century, was making his first championship appearance after breaking a toe and that Trescothick's last five innings had ended in single figures.
They both drove with massive power and Trescothick, whose unbeaten 84, containing 11 fours and a six, was his highest score in two seasons, preyed voraciously on the spinners, particularly Ashley Giles, whom he picked up and dispatched to midwicket for three fours and a six in an over just before tea.
The advantage Warwickshire sought from electing to bowl in damp conditions on a grassy, two-paced pitch was quickly achieved. In between three stoppages for rain, Giddins flung out Piran Holloway's off stump while Dougie Brown accounted for Peter Bowler and Richard Harden.
Day 2: Caddick sets right tone for Somerset
By D J Rutnagur at Taunton
Second day of four: Warwickshire (129 & 53-3) trail Somerset (364) by 182 runs
DERMOTT REEVE, Somerset's coach, must have driven out of the County Ground last night with mixed feelings - elation at the prospect of his charges achieving a second win in successive matches and despair at the ineptitude and low morale of Warwickshire, a side who he had led to such heights of glory only a few years ago.
While Somerset recovered from 52 for four to register their highest first-innings score of the season, Warwickshire, at one stage
losing six wickets for 19 runs in nine overs, were bowled out in 205 minutes.
Their innings would not have lasted a session but for Nick Knight's distinction in carrying his bat for a composed 67 and the stubborn support he received from Graeme Welch during a ninth-wicket partnership of 45.
When Somerset continued their innings in the morning, Marcus Trescothick, like Simon Ecclestone, with whom he had forged a recovery on Wednesday, failed to win the reward of a century. Wanting only two more, he missed a sweep at Neil Smith. But Rob Turner and nightwatchman Matt Bulbeck steered Somerset to a total of some strength.
When Warwickshire batted after lunch, Peter Bowler - probably at the instigation of the coach, reputed for unorthodoxy in his captaincy days - had leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed opening the attack with Andrew Caddick.
Caddick's dismissal of Michael Powell set the tone for Somerset. Graham Rose, replacing Mushtaq, worked up a fair head of steam and bowled David Hemp, who had shouldered arms.
Brian Lara responded to the crisis with counter-attack, Caddick being his target. He lashed him for five fours in quick succession, four with drives and the other with a pull. Then, assaulting a ball which Rose slanted across him, he was caught at third slip.
Bulbeck, a local lad of 18 and playing only his second match, tore through the middle order, claiming Trevor Penney, Dougie Brown and Ashley Giles in 20 balls. That all three were trapped lbw was testimony to the youngster's control of swing and direction. Then Caddick came back and, with two balls of full length, blasted out Keith Piper and Neil Smith. Rose terminated Welch's resistance and ended the innings in line for a hat-trick.
When they followed on, Warwickshire felt the full fury of Caddick, the fast bowler England scorned. Powell, his footwork in a tangle, was lbw in his second over. In his third, Knight, moving across and aiming to leg, suffered the same fate while Hemp edged low to slip.
Day 3: Smith's stand restores pride
By D J Rutnagur at Taunton
Third day of four: Somerset (364 & 70-2) bt Warwickshire (129 & 304) by 8 wkts
A STIRRING rearguard action, inspired by Neil Smith with a gallant and robust 147, could not redeem Warwickshire but gained them much honour in defeat. Smith, who hit 22 fours and three sixes, came in at No 9 when Warwickshire, harried by Andrew Caddick, Graham Rose and Matt Bulbeck, needed 151 to avoid the innings defeat.
Smith must have strapped on his pads in some haste for wickets four, five and six had gone down with the score stuck on 82, and seven with only two leg byes added. He had loyal allies in Trevor Penney, who stayed with him for 22 overs and Ashley Giles, who was entrenched for almost as long. Thus Smith presided over the addition of 220 runs for the last three wickets.
Warwickshire's first-innings collapse and the faltering start when they followed on did betray a lack of spirit, but not so yesterday, despite the sharp decline that followed the breach of the overnight partnership between Brian Lara and nightwatchman Keith Piper.
That stand occupied the first 65 minutes. Never in his life could Lara have batted with greater circumspection. Indeed he was paying deference to the high quality of the bowling, consistenty aimed just outisde his off stump and at a perfect length. But at the same time he was giving his team a lesson in disciplined batting under intense pressure and in conditions in which the ball swung unceasingly.
The great man played just five scoring shots in the first hour and it was only when Bulbeck's line strayed a bit that he allowed himself the liberty of a steer for a rare boundary hit. Piper took his example and batted with grim resolution until he met with a brutally lifting ball from Caddick.
In the next over, Bulbeck swung one late at Lara and had him caught behind. The young colt aimed his first ball at Dougie Brown at the blockhole and scatterd his stumps and, without having conceded a run in between, claimed Graeme Welch, who shouldered arms.
Caddick was still breathing fire and nearly had Penney before he had scored, a snick flying between second and third slips. Penney had another close call, a bat-pad chance to silly mid-off when propping forward at Mushtaq Ahmed. Once Smith cut loose, however, Somerset's attack was quickly blunted.