Nottinghamshire’s poor record at Taunton continued with defeat on the final day of their Specsavers County Championship match against Somerset.

The home side, set to score 248 from a minimum of 78 overs, reached their target halfway through the final session after a flurry of runs from Steven Davies and Tom Abell.

Somerset had gone to tea on 163 for four, with both sides still in contention but the unbroken fifth wicket stand of 87 in 16.3 overs led the home county to 250 for four and a six-wicket triumph.

Matt Carter claimed figures of three for 82, to take a match haul of eight for 195.

Earlier, Notts were bowled out in their second innings for 505, after batting on for around an hour.

Somerset began their chase in the second part of the morning session and they had reached 46 for one in the 13 overs that were bowled before lunch. Realistically, the visitors needed to make early inroads and they weren’t helped when a confident lbw shout by Matt Milnes against Matt Renshaw went unrewarded.

Steven Mullaney did make the initial breakthrough, as he had in the first innings, by removing Eddie Byrom for 22 to a catch by Tom Moores.

That was the sole success for Notts for 28 overs as a partnership of 96 strengthened the Cidermen’s position. Matt Carter eventually struck, picking up his sixth wicket of the contest by bowling George Bartlett for 43.

Renshaw, who had reached his fifty from 91 deliveries, became Carter’s second victim of the day with Ross Taylor clutching a smart low slip catch.

The tall spin bowler threatened with every delivery and gave his side a further boost when he struck in the final over before tea, having James Hildreth well caught by Billy Root at short leg for 21.

Davies hit four of his first six deliveries to the fence after the restart and the contest was effectively over.

Earlier, the day’s events began on time with Nottinghamshire resuming on 468 for eight, holding a lead of 210.

Luke Fletcher carried on from his overnight score of seven and was joined by Carter, who gave the total a timely boost with some powerful hitting.

The 22-year old twice launched the spin of Roelof van der Merwe over the midweek rope and into the stands for six. The second occasion brought up the 500 for Notts but unfortunately struck a steward, who was immediately attended to by medical staff.

Josh Davey eventually picked up the last two wickets in the innings, having Carter caught behind for 20 and Fletcher bowled for 21.

Nottinghamshire haven’t won a county championship match in Taunton since 1985 and take just two points from this contest, which leaves them in fourth place in the Division One table.

Attention now turns to the white ball arena, with Notts Outlaws facing Kent Spitfires in the Royal London One-Day Cup knock-out match at Trent Bridge on Thursday 14th June 2018.

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