Jeetan Patel steers Bears to opening Championship win

Warwickshire's Jeetan Patel blazed an unbeaten 43 to earn County Championship victory over Somerset at Edgbaston.

With 136 needed, and eight men to come at start of play, the loss of five wickets, including William Porterfield (84), left the Bears up against it.

But Patel and skipper Jim Troughton (15 not out) put on an unbroken 55 for the ninth wicket to help reach 262-8.

Peter Trego did some damage with four wickets in 23 deliveries, but could not prevent a two-wicket Bears opening win.

Having nose-dived from 190-3 to 207-8 in half a dozen overs, Patel launched a spectacular counter attack.

Patel, who scored a century against Yorkshire in his first spell with Warwickshire three years ago, went for his shots in a bold display of hitting, facing only 36 balls in scoring 43 of the 55 runs added with Troughton.

Having hoisted Trego high over long on, he carved Vernon Philander over third man, although this might have resulted in a catch had Trego not lost his footing on the greasy surface in the shadow the pavilion.

With 16 wanted and a new ball available in three overs, Trescothick gambled on his young spinner, George Dockrell, who won the opening match against Middlesex with a return of 6-27.

But this time he was trumped by Patel, the New Zealander driving him for six and then two fours before taking a single, allowing Troughton to strike the winning boundary past point.