Somerset v Derbyshire: Compton & Hildreth lead home fightback

Marcus Trescothick, Nick Compton and James Hildreth hit half-centuries to earn Somerset a 36-run lead, but Derbyshire remain in a strong position.

Resuming on 220-5, the visitors were all out for 298, as overnight half-centurions Richard Johnson (68) and Tom Poynton (57) proved unable to push on.

Alfonso Thomas (3-52) took three wickets in a productive morning spell.

After Trescothick made 57, Hildreth (81) and Compton (64 no) shared a stand of 116 as Somerset closed on 231-4.

Despite Somerset enjoying such a good day, they are still underdogs in this game thanks to their paltry first-innings total of 103.

Bottom-placed Derbyshire went into this round of matches trailing Somerset - who sit just outside the Division One relegation zone - by 17 points.

But the East Midlands club had the better of day one, denying their hosts any batting points with an exceptional bowling performance.

They resumed on day two at Taunton with a 117-run lead, but Poynton fell to Thomas in the day's second over.

Piyush Chawla, on his home debut, added the scalp of Johnson to finish with 5-111, while Craig Meschede (2-30) got rid of last man Mark Footitt, leaving Tim Groenewald unbeaten on 36, but the last pair did add a valuable 42.

Somerset passed their first-innings total within 31 overs, Trescothick's 81-ball 57 giving them a solid platform.

And Hildreth hit a six and eight fours in nearly two hours at the crease, enjoying a century stand for the third wicket with Compton.

But two wickets fell late on, David Wainwright bowling Hildreth to end the game's highest partnership so far, before Shivnarine Chanderpaul crucially got rid of Craig Kieswetter.

VIEW FROM THE COMMENTARY BOX

BBC Radio Derby's Dave Jepson:

"Derbyshire will have high hopes of recording a third win in four matches.

"But it was a far more resilient effort second time around from Somerset, who made the visitors work hard for their wickets.

"Marcus Trescothick, James Hildreth and Nick Compton all made sizeable contributions, but two wickets in the last half an hour have given Derbyshire every chance of securing a victory that will keep their Division One hopes alive."

Match scorecard