James Rew notched a career best 123*, his fourth Championship century of the season, George Bartlett 134 and Kasey Aldridge 50, as Notts toiled in overcast conditions at the Cooper Associates County Ground on day three.
Tom Abell eventually declared 491 runs in front with Somerset 514-8.
Matt Henry (2-19) and Craig Overton (1-14) the early destroyers, limiting the Outlaws to 14-4. Josh Davey (4-17) and Kasey Aldridge (2-41) then getting the job done, Notts 92 all out, Somerset winning by 399 runs-their second biggest Championship win by runs margin of all time!
A few soft-hand edges for four gave Notts sniffs of early wickets, but nothing doing until Bartlett was eventually bowled for a magnificent 134 by Dane Paterson. Bartlett’s 265-ball stay set the game up for his team as they led by 297 with five wickets and over a day and a half remaining in the game.
Top red-ball run scorer for Somerset James Rew, who had 598 runs from seven matches coming into this game got to 50 in the 101st over. “A typically polished innings, very economical, even effortless, a remarkably reassuring presence considering his youth” summarised Vic Marks alongside me.A second half-century to go with three hundreds this Championship season for the Somerset wicket-keeper.
Ball, then Paterson and Carter did reach a hundred off their own bowling in the afternoon session as Somerset seemed to accelerate, Rew opting to take Carter for sixes twice over the leg side before 2pm.
Rew top edged a slog sweep over slip for two when 83* and actually got to his 100 with a slice of fortune, edging between ‘keeper and slip having seen off a Carter maiden when 99*.
Off spinners Vic Marks and Matt Carter both agreed the Kookaburra ball feels smaller and seemed better for spin with a less-pronounced seam, though potentially the key off-spinner in the match Shoaib Bashir still had nothing yet to do on day three of this match.
Aldridge reached exactly 50 for Somerset before being bowled by Lyndon James to bring Craig Overton out with the lead already well over 400. He reached 11 off seven balls before holing out, still no declaration, perhaps Surrey chasing 500 with wickets and overs in hand vs Kent was in the back of Abell’s mind.
Henry scythed 22* off 11 balls, with one final six prompting the declaration with one ball lost in the ether, after 138.5 overs of batting. They took tea, 36 overs to be bowled, light permitting, before close.
A mix-up between Haseeb Hameed and Ben Slater saw the former go for a pair to a direct hit from who-else but match top scorer Bartlett from backward point before a run on the board.
Both openers were out before three was reached as Henry got Slater lbw. A small period of consolidation followed before Overton joined the party, Montgomery caught by Aldridge in the slips for seven. 10-3 after 7.3 overs.
The big fish, Joe Clarke, fresh off 229* v Warwickshire earlier in the month, was also snicked off by Henry, opening bowler partner Overton swallowing the pigeon in the slips this time, 14-4 after 10.2.
Lyndon James held the tide a while, but Josh Davey, first change had him caught by Lammonby in the slips for eight.
Mullaney and Moores put on 30 before Aldridge had the Notts skipper edging behind for 23.
Hutton went the same way, walking when not given in three seconds of Davey celebrappealing. 63-7.
Moores, got one more than his skipper before giving Rew his third mention on the scorecard in a row. 67-8 and Carter looking like he would rather a day off tomorrow than night watch the remaining 15 overs light-permitting.
He swatted 12 (plus two no balls) off Aldridge’s fourth over-the new allrounder on the block continuing to be Somerset’s most expensive bowler, though his two wickets greatly aiding the chance of a three-day finish.
Last ball of the 24th, Ball popped Davey up to Dickson at short midwicket. 84-9. Sean Dickson, fresh from watching his former teammate Daniel Bell-Drummond join him in the Kent triple-century club whilst Bartlett and Rew batted on this morning.
The game wrapped up by Overton leaping up at second slip to catch Paterson for five, Davey’s fourth, Carter stranded 15*.
