OLD TRAFFORD

(day one of four, Somerset won toss)

Somerset 238 (ME Trescothick 77, ID Blackwell 64, S Mahmood 3-54), Lancashire 55-0 (PJ Horton 29 not out, IJ Sutcliffe 25 not out)

Lunch

Glen Chapple pegged back Somerset in an 11-over spell from the Brian Statham End after overnight rain delayed the start by 15 minutes. But Lancashire missed a potentially expensive catch when Stuart Law, the captain, dropped Marcus Trescothick at slip to deny James Anderson a first wicket of the season.

Justin Langer was left to contemplate his decision to bat first on an overcast morning as John Francis was trapped on the crease by Chapple and Sajid Mahmood held a tricky running catch as the captain top-edged a pull. Trescothick then survived two stiffer chances against a lively Andrew Flintoff before completing an 82-ball fifty.

Tea

Andrew Flintoff, in a second eight-over spell of the game, claimed two wickets as Lancashire took control of proceedings. Showing no obvious concern with his left ankle, the England all-rounder bowled with pace and hostility to have Peter Trego caught behind and Craig Kieswetter lbw to a ball of full length.

The loss of Marcus Trescothick to waist-high catch at second slip proved a serious setback for Somerset. Ian Blackwell added 48 with Trego and generally curbed his attacking instinct on a challenging pitch. Lancashire bowled tidily and ended the session with the spin of Simon Marshall and Brad Hodge in tandem.

Close

Lancashire continued to press the advantage secured before tea as they wrapped up the Somerset innings and then laid sound foundations to their reply in 20 overs before close. Sajid Mahmood claimed a third wicket when Luke Sutton took an athletic catch down the leg side to remove Ian Blackwell, the last recognised Somerset batsman.

Charl Willoughby found some inswing with the new ball and Michael Munday, the wrist-spin bowler, beat Paul Horton off the pitch as reward for his willingness to toss it up. But Somerset lacked the hostility of the Lancashire attack as conditions for batting became easier on the nicest part of the day.

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