Matthew Carter turned in the sort of performance that had the cricket statisticians diving for the record books as he returned figures of seven for 56 on the second day of Nottinghamshire’s LV= County Championship match against Somerset at Taunton.

On his first class debut, the 19-year off spinner tore through the Somerset batting line-up to claim seven of the eight wickets to fall between lunch and tea as the hosts were skittled out for exactly 200.

That gave Notts a first innings lead of 210 after the visitors had themselves lost four quick wickets at the start of the day.

After deciding not to enforce the follow-on Notts closed on 89 for four, second time around, to take an overall lead of 299 into the third day.

Carter, younger brother of fast bowler Andy Carter, admitted everything had gone like a dream since he’d arrived in the west country.

“I was feeling almost confused when they told me I was playing,” he said. “I thought ‘Are they joking?’. But then they confirmed I was playing, so it was a massive relief.

“I felt I got out to a really good ball when I batted but when I came on to bowl I was very nervous when I sent that first ball down.

“After that I felt very confident. All the lads were talking to me through that crucial first over and when that was out of the way I was alright.”

The tale of Carter’s seven wickets is worth listing:

1. James Hildreth – the country’s leading run scorer edged to ‘keeper Wessels as he tried to square cut

2. Tom Cooper - mistimed a sweep high to Ben Hilfenhaus at short fine leg.

3. Jim Allenby – bowled by one that turned back through the gate

4. Michael Bates – turn and bounce meant he could only pop one up to Samit Patel, one of five fielders around the bat

5. Alfonso Thomas – charged at the spinner but then hit it straight to Taylor at short midwicket

6. Abdur Rehman – had played some mighty blows but was well taken by Jake Ball, running back from mid on, when he tried another

7. Tim Groenewald – attempted to find the river but couldn’t clear Luke Wood just inside the fence.

Carter agreed that the conditions were absolutely ideal for his type of bowling.

“It’s always nice to see a ball turn, especially on the second day. People say they don’t like facing me because of my height but to find turn is an added extra.

“A number of people have helped me get this far, Felly (Mark Fell) at Lincolnshire got me bowling spin and then when I came to Notts. Gary Keedy tweaked a few things with my hands and feet and has made everything much more comfortable. I couldn’t have had a better start.”

Notts began the day on 391 for six in their first innings, with Riki Wessels and Luke Wood together at the crease, but the visitors soon compromised their position of strength as the last four wickets fell for only 19 runs in 8.4 overs.

Wood was first to go, for 16, steering Tim Groenewald to gully, where Johann Myburgh clung on to a sharp catch.

Groenewald had bowled 18 overs without success on the opening day but picked up two more in quick succession as Notts were bundled out shortly after claiming maximum batting points.

Wessels drove uppishly to mid off for 63, with Alfonso Thomas taking the catch and then Thomas spoilt Carter’s debut with the bat by bowling him for nought, with a delivery that knocked back the off pole, to pick up his fifth scalp.

Ben Hilfenhaus launched Thomas for a mighty six into the Somerset Stand but he was left high and dry on 10 not out as Jake Ball also went without scoring.

Six wickets had fallen during the entire first day and as many fell in the opening 90 minutes of the second day as Luke Wood struck twice at the start of the Somerset second innings. Marcus Trescothick, who registered a pair in the recent meeting at Trent Bridge, raced to 16 before edging to first slip, where Brendan Taylor took a sharp catch and then Johann Myburgh became the third player of the morning to make a duck as he lost his off peg to the left-armer.

At 73 for two at lunch, Somerset seemed to be in a position to bat themselves back into the game, but that was without taking Carter’s afternoon efforts into account.

The other dismissal was that of Peter Trego, who was bowled for nought by Jake Ball, leaving opener Tom Abell still there after carrying his bat for an unbeaten 76.

When Notts batted for a second time they lost Brendan Taylor for 7, Greg Smith for 12, Michael Lumb for 6 and Steven Mullaney for 34.

It all meant that the day ended as it began, with Wessels and Wood together at the crease.

 

Notts Outlaws NatWest T20 Blast Fixtures & Ticket Information

v Northants Steelbacks – Saturday 27 June 2.30pm BUY TICKETS
v Worcestershire Rapids – Friday 3 July 6.30pm BUY TICKETS
v Derbyshire Falcons – Friday 10 July 6.30pm BUY TICKETS

Need more information? Call our ticket office on 0844 8118711.