The start of play was delayed until 1.10pm, and the day’s overs reduced to 80, after showers prevented any play in the first session. The opening pair put on 119 before Suppiah, whose fifty came off 85 deliveries and included ten boundaries, was out lbw to Ian Blackwell for 54.
Marcus Trescothick helped Nick Compton ease in at the crease and at tea Somerset were 154-1 at tea after half of the day’s overs. The pair put on 113 with the captain reaching hundred in the meantime, from 149 balls and including 17 fours. A bowling change in the 58th over saw Dale Benkenstein come on at the Old Pavilion End and strike in his second over with Compton caught by Borthwick on 45, leaving Somerset 232-2.
Benkenstein struck again in his following over claiming the scalp of the top scorer, Trescothick, who was caught at extra cover by Stoneman on 128. It was a case of third time lucky after two earlier breaks, the first where he had edged one between the keeper and first slip off Mark Davies and the second in Benks’ first over when he managed hit the ball up high and placed it so that Mark Stoneman didn’t have enough time to move back to claim the catch.
Mitchell Claydon returned for this second spell in the 64th over and a wicket followed a couple of overs later when he bowled James Hildreth for 7.
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At the close of play we spoke to Dale Benkenstein, “It was nice to get a couple of wickets but it’s e decent deck and I thought the guys fought pretty hard. It’s always a fast running ground and with a short boundary at the one side it was quite difficult to defend when you get guys of Trescothick’s calibre in there, luckily the partnerships didn’t get too high, we managed to get a few wickets and it gave us a chance to maybe get 5 or 6 down tonight which would have been a really good day but they managed to hang on and they will be satisfied with their day.
“Every game we’re trying to get better and bowling wise it was good see Mark Davies back, bowlign really well and doing what he does best and he was really unlucky not to get Trescothick when he nicked him but by that stage everyone was in the covers as we were trying to defend all the gaps.
“Today was a tough day but everyone gave everything. They are going to be really going for it on the next few days and we’re going to have to fight hard.”