Glamorgan’s all-rounder Jim Allenby has won the Wetherell Award from The Cricket Society as the leading all-rounder in English first-class cricket in 2012.

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Jan-2013Glamorgan’s all-rounder Jim Allenby has won the Wetherell Award from The Cricket Society as the leading all-rounder in English first-class cricket in 2012.Allenby’s performances went largely unheralded as Glamorgan struggled near the foot of the Second Division and failed to make an impact in either of the one-day competitions in a deeply disappointing season.But that has not deterred The Cricket Society, which has recognised his record of 733 first-class runs at an average of 40.72 and 42 first-class wickets at 23 runs apiece. As well as being Glamorgan’s leading championship wicket-taker, he also struck two championship hundreds against Essex at Colchester and Kent in Cardiff.Allenby, Glamorgan’s player of the year, succeeds Chris Woakes, of Warwickshire, althouigh while Woakes is part of England’s one-day party in India, Allenby has never been mentioned in international terms. He also follows a past Glamorgan winner, Robert Croft, who took the award in 2004.Allenby, who is is spending the off-season in Western Australia, will receive the award from Sir Tim Rice at the Cricket Society’s Spring Dinner in London on March 22.

The ICC has admitted its Playing Control Team (PCT) made “an honest error” while applying the DRS to the Jacques Kallis review on the second day of the Newlands Test and that the batsman was erroneously given out

Firdose Moonda at Newlands15-Feb-2013The ICC has admitted its Playing Control Team (PCT) made “an honest error” while applying the DRS to the Jacques Kallis review on the second day of the Newlands Test and that the batsman was erroneously given out.Kallis was given out after an appeal that Pakistan coach Dav Whatmore confirmed was for a bat-pad catch off Saeed Ajmal’s bowling. Umpire Steve Davis upheld the appeal but the batsman immediately asked for a review.Hot Spot replays indicated there was no bat involved, so it couldn’t be out caught, but the ball had both pitched and hit Kallis’ pad well in line with the stumps and the ball-tracking indicated that it would have clipped leg stump, which was shown to be an umpire’s call. As a result, Kallis was instead given out lbw, after input from the third umpire, Billy Bowden.The playing conditions allow for the method of dismissal to be changed during a review but have specific terms under which that can be done.Point 3.3 (f) in the playing conditions states: “The third umpire shall not withhold any factual information which may help in the decision making process, even if the information is not directly prompted by the on-field umpire’s questions. In particular, in reviewing a dismissal, if the third umpire believes that the batsman may instead be out by any other mode of dismissal, he shall advise the on-field umpire accordingly. The process of consultation described in this paragraph in respect of such other mode of dismissal shall then be conducted as if the batsman has been given not out.”So when it was evident Kallis could not be out caught, because he had not hit the ball, the evidence for an lbw decision should have been considered from the point of view that the on-field umpire had ruled it not out. The projected path of the ball – clipping leg stump – was then an umpire’s call, according to the DRS, and Kallis would have been not out.”The PCT made an honest error in this extremely rare situation,” the ICC said in a release. “The umpires followed usual umpiring principles in giving Kallis out lbw on umpire’s call the review was for the batsman out caught. This is because the normal principle is that an appeal covers all forms of dismissal.”However, the playing conditions state that when the third umpire observes that the batsman could be out by another mode of dismissal, the decision being reviewed using DRS should be as if the batsman had been originally given not out. Therefore, in this instance Kallis, as the point of impact was umpire’s call, should not have been given out lbw.”South Africa’s team management was “happy with the explanation” they were given, though Kallis had appeared confused about the mode of his dismissal at the time and had held a lengthy conversation with Davis before leaving the field. Team manager, Mohammed Moosajee confirmed South Africa had been involved in discussions with the umpires but said they would not take the matter further.”There is a code of conduct which we need to abide by when it comes to DRS. We sought clarity from the umpire and we were happy with the explanation,” Moosajee said. “We understand that if a batsman is given out for something and the technology shows something else, the third umpire is within his rights to make that decision.”Whatmore interpreted the dismissal in the same way. “My understanding is that when a decision is referred to the TV umpire, he can make his own decision,” he said.This is the second time in the series that DRS has come under discussion. At the Wanderers, Pakistan were unhappy with the use of Hotspot after four decisions went against them. They indicated they would write a report to the ICC and Whatmore said any grievances would be addressed through the channels provided, although nothing further was heard about the issue.Whatmore remained a backer of DRS in spite of the recent incidents. “I have always been a supporter of technology assisting umpires to make the right decisions. We are very pleased to have DRS. We had a series a few months ago in which we didn’t have DRS and it was very frustrating.”South Africa were also in favour of technology. Graeme Smith previously went on record advocating that DRS be used across the board. Kallis, however, had an outburst about ball-tracking technology on South Africa’s tour of New Zealand last March in which he said “99% of cricketers,” do not trust it.

Australia were made to rue the fact that they had not appealed to have whirlwind centurion Shikhar Dhawan Mankaded before the first ball of the India innings was even bowled

Sharda Ugra16-Mar-2013As he put together his whirlwind debut century, Shikhar Dhawan had it in the back of his head that he could have been run out without facing a ball.As Mitchell Starc ran in to open the bowling in the Indian innings, the ball slipped out of his hand and fell onto the stumps at the non-striker’s end. Dhawan, at that time, was a foot outside the crease.It is debatable if he had been given out had Australia appealed. The umpires would have had to consider an important part of the manakading playing condition, which says, “The bowler is permitted, before releasing the ball and provided he has not completed his usual delivery swing, to attempt to run out the non-striker.” Since the ball had slipped out of his hand unintentionally, they could have concluded “an attempt had not been made”.*However, Dhawan thought he was gone. He found himself laughing, while the Australia captain Michael Clark made signs to the umpires to go up to the TV umpire in jest, and the incident passed without rancour.Dhawan, who was batting on 185 at stumps on day three, said after play: “It was lunch after that over. I was laughing in the dressing room, that history could have been created, that without facing a ball I would have been out and back in the dressing room.”He returned after the break and, in the matter of a single session, rewrote history. He produced one of the most breathtaking of debut centuries in recent times: it was the fastest ever by a Test debutant (85 balls) and the highest score on debut for India, surpassing Gundappa Viswanath’s 137 in Kanpur against Australia in 1969.He was given his Test cap by Sachin Tendulkar before the match and Dhawan said Tendulkar’s words to him had been simple: “He told me that we all have known you as a gutsy player, and you’ve been performing well on the domestic circuit. We’d like to see your gutsy nature and shots over here.”And so he did. Dhawan’s strike rate so far in this Test innings has been just over 110, the numbers closer to 50-overs and T20 cricket. But Dhawan said he was in no hurry to score at a particular rate, nor did it form part of any larger team strategy. “I wasn’t really playing in a hurry. The fours were coming on their own after the ball hit the bat. But I guess I was in good flow today. I felt my shot selection was good and I played according to how I’d assessed the wicket. I didn’t feel that I rushed things. There was no strategy, I was hitting the ball well, I was middling the ball very nicely and the runs came on their own. My only focus was that I’d play the ball on merit.”He admitted to being nervous, remembering his ODI debut against Australia on October 20, 2010, where he was bowled by Clink McKay off the second ball he faced. “This time I was nervous, that it was again Australia on my Test debut, because I’d scored zero then. But everything went well and I was really happy that I grabbed this opportunity and scored a century… It was a very satisfying feeling.”After his disastrous ODI debut, captain MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina had offered Dhawan solace, which had stayed in his mind. “They told me that the players who’ve got out on zero for India on debut, they went really big.”Dhawan last played for India in June 2011, and was dropped after five ODI appearances. “I worked really hard and changed myself, and became a more mature player. I was waiting for a chance. I did very well on the domestic circuit, and was waiting for a chance to play in international cricket. I guess then that went my way.”Apart from Test and ODI debuts against the Australians, Dhawan’s other Australian connection is personal. His wife, Aesha Mukherjee, a British-Asian, currently lives in Melbourne with her two daughters. After returning to the dressing room, Dhawan said: “I called my wife first. I knew she’d been praying for me, so it was an emotional moment for my wife. It’s a great moment for me and my family.”Dhawan’s nickname amongst his peers is Jaat-jee, which comes from his Jaat heritage. The Jaats come from a largely rural community in North India, concentrated in Haryana and portions of western Uttar Pradesh, surrounding Delhi. Dhawan’s distinctive and carefully maintained moustache owes some allegiance to that heritage. As he walked off the field at tea and then at stumps, he twirled his moustache upwards, in a somewhat old-fashioned but instantly-recognisable gesture of bragging-rights ownership. On Saturday, he couldn¹t be denied.*07.20pm GMT, March 16: The article has been updated after reviewing the laws of the game.

Gaurtam Gambhir’s 18th IPL half-century – now a record – set up the perfect platform for Eoin Morgan to exploit while Jacques Kallis coolly sat back and kept alternating the strike

The Report by Sidharth Monga14-Apr-2013
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Gautam Gambhir led from the front•BCCI

Gautam Gambhir’s 18th IPL half-century – now a record – set up the perfect platform for Eoin Morgan to exploit while Jacques Kallis coolly sat back and kept alternating the strike. With Kolkata Knight Riders’ big three taking them to 180 on a pitch that had prompted both sides to pick an extra spinner each, their bowlers defended the total without a threat from Sunrisers Hyderabad.After Gambhir won the toss, Manvinder Bisla got the Kolkata innings going by getting stuck into the part-time offspin of Hanuma Vihari in the second over. Gambhir let Bisla take the risks as he himself went solidly in the Powerplay, but the sight of legspin, and the ball turning into him, was an invitation he didn’t refuse. In Amit Mishra’s first over, Gambhir took two boundaries down the ground, and even though the other legspinner Karan Sharma got Bisla, Gambhir kept going strong in those middle overs.In the next two overs, Gambhir took a four and a six off the legspinners, taking Kolkata to 76 for 1 after 10. Kallis had begun to shake off his slow start by the time Gambhir finally fell to Ashish Reddy in the 14th over, but it was Morgan who provided them the real impetus. He got going with a bit of a mis-hit off Mishra, which carried over long-on. The last 28 balls, including that six, yielded 70 runs.Thisara Perera bore most of the brunt of the Morgan assault when 22 came off the 18th over bowled by him. It contained two flat pulls and a cut for fours, a straight six, and one wide to boot. Morgan was run out in the 19th over, but Kallis finished off well, registering an almost inconspicuous 41 off 27. Morgan looted 47 off 21.Sunrisers have surprised many so far in the tournament, but they have done so chasing lowish totals. They have always seemed light at the top, and it was reiterated despite the promotion of Cameron White to open the innings. All it took Kolkata was to remain steady and straight with the ball, and even into the seventh over, the openers were struggling with a strike rate of under a run a ball.If it were the spinners – IPL debutant Sachithra Senananayake and Sunil Narine – that built the pressure at the top, Kallis the allrounder bothered Parthiv Patel with bowling short and straight. It finally produced the wickets of the openers, and the 113 required to get in 9.3 overs were always going to be too many on the slowish track. And so it proved to be, giving Kolkata their biggest win at home.

Graeme Hick, one of the greatest batting enigmas in England’s history, has been called up to sort out the mindsets of young Australia batsmen increasingly wedded to Twenty20 cricket.

David Hopps21-Apr-2013Graeme Hick, one of the greatest batting enigmas in England’s history, has been called up to sort out the mindsets of young Australia batsmen increasingly wedded to Twenty20 cricket.Hick will not have time to influence the Ashes series – Australia, despite being in a state of turmoil, plan to announce their squad on Wednesday, even though the opening Test at Trent Bridge will still be 12 weeks away.But Australia’s decision to call up Hick to teach their batsmen how to play long innings reflects their uncertainty about how to deal with the influence of a T20 format that promises quick rewards and instant fame.Nobody loved batting more than Hick. He only scored six Test hundreds for England in 65 Tests – none against Australia in 10 attempts and was pilloried by the English media during an international career that was viewed as largely unfulfilled.But he made 136 hundreds in 25 years at first-class level when his batting often seemed inexorable. It was those qualities which has persuaded Troy Cooley, the head coach at Australia’s centre of excellence and Stuart Law, the high performance coach, to summon him to Brisbane from his home nearby on the Gold Coast.”In the first-class system here there was only one person who had scored two hundreds in Sheffield Shield cricket by mid-January, not including the guys that played in the Test matches,” Hick told the . “That’s unheard of, and when I spoke to Stuey Law and Troy Cooley (that was something they identified. Having put together some biggish scores in my time, they thought I could pass on some of my methods.”Hick will work with some of the younger players in Australia’s set-up from mid-May onwards. “It’s a unique system in that players can go from Grade cricket to Test cricket very quickly,” he said. “The way the Australia team is at the moment I would think that a lot of these younger guys will feel they have a real chance of making it into the side in the next 18 months or so.”Hick’s 405 for Worcestershire against Somerset in 1988 remains one of the most remarkable batting feats in England’s first-class history – only exceeded twice in the country – but he has not been used in any capacity since his retirement. Australia are out to prove that his knowledge is worth tapping.

Rahul Dravid and Adam Gilchrist have praised the Rajasthan Royals bowlers for tying down the Kings XI Punjab batsmen towards the end of their innings in Mohali on Thursday

ESPNcricinfo staff10-May-2013Rahul Dravid and Adam Gilchrist have praised the Rajasthan Royals bowlers for tying down the Kings XI Punjab batsmen towards the end of their innings in Mohali on Thursday. Kings XI were 105 for 2 in the 15th over but were restricted to 145 for 6, Royals allrounder Kevon Cooper leading the way with 3 for 23 from four overs. Ajinkya Rahane then made his third successive half-century as Royals recorded their ninth win of the season with eight wickets and an over to spare.Dravid, the Royals captain, said death bowling had been a “major concern” for his side, and something that had been discussed among the players. “We have been discussing the issue in the team meetings, working out ways on how to improve our bowling at the death. We actually had a chat with two to three bowlers,” Dravid said. “We came out with a few ideas and some plans. The bowlers have been implementing those plans for the last couple of games. I think the bowlers, particularly Kevon and James Faulkner, performed really well.”Gilchrist, the Kings XI captain, said his batsmen should have made more runs in the last five overs but also credited the Royals attack. “The middle-order batsmen didn’t capitalise on the start,” Gilchrist said. “But full credit to the Rajasthan bowlers. They worked out how to bowl at the death on that wicket. They had the perfect variations and took pace off the ball.”The pitch was slower than usual. And that made it difficult for the batsmen to hit boundaries. That took the steam out of our batting. We wanted to set a target of around 160, which would have been competitive on this wicket. We had a good foundation but the middle-order batsmen failed to launch themselves.”Despite the early loss of Dravid in the chase, Rahane formed big partnerships with Shane Watson and Sanju Samson as Royals motored to victory. “We timed the chase perfectly,” Dravid said. “It could have been a tricky chase, especially because of the slow wicket. They have got very good bowlers in their line-up as well. But Watson and Rahane had a good partnership going to lay the foundation. Then Rahane and Sanju Samson finished it off quite well.”Samson, the 18-year old wicketkeeper-batsman from Kerala, has impressed in the few opportunities he’s got so far, and made an important contribution again, with an unbeaten 47 off 33 deliveries. Dravid said there was “something special” about Samson. “I hope he continues to work hard,” Dravid said. “He is a very tough customer to bowl at. If you think you can stifle him by bowling short deliveries, you are wrong. He actually plays the short ball quite well. He can play shots and is a very good player of spin.”Cooper, the Man of the Match, said the slow Mohali pitch suited his bowling. “I wasn’t bowling well in the last few games,” Cooper said. “I knew I had to do well here. So it feels really nice to contribute to the team’s win. The wicket was a bit slow. Actually, it suited my bowling. I just tried to take the pace off the ball and it worked out well for me. We bowled well in partnerships. That’s very important in T20 cricket.”

The Madras High Court has issued notices to the BCCI president and the IPL chairman, among others, on a PIL filed by a Madurai-based lawyer seeking a government takeover of the BCCI and the IPL

ESPNcricinfo staff22-May-2013The Madras High Court has issued notices to the BCCI president and the IPL chairman, among others, on a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by a Madurai-based lawyer seeking a government takeover of the administration of the BCCI and the IPL. The lawyer, V Santhakumaresan, alleged that the Indian board had failed to promote the game, and that conduct of certain activities and the receipt of income were totally commercial without any objective of charity.He asked the court to direct the CBI to conduct an investigation into match-fixing, betting and the BCCI’s source of income and financial status, and sought a stay on IPL matches to be played from May 22 to 26.Meanwhile in a decision similar to the one given by the Supreme Court of India on Tuesday, the Delhi High Court quashed a PIL refusing to ban the IPL, saying the apex court had already dealt with the issue. A division bench of the high court refused to hear the issue related to spot-fixing in the IPL, but agreed to hear a separate issue which sought the segregation of the IPL form the BCCI.The Supreme Court had rejected a petition filed by a Lucknow resident to stay the IPL playoff matches until the completion of investigations of the alleged spot-fixing in the tournament.

Marcus Trescothick ended a run of four ducks with a welcome return to form bit it failed to bring Somerset an anticipated victory against Worcestershire

Ivo Tennant14-Jul-2013
ScorecardMarcus Trescothick returned to form but it failed to bring Somerset victory•PA Photos

A return to form by Marcus Trescothick and some six-hitting by Jos Buttler entirely in keeping with his reputation should have resulted in a reasonably straightforward victory by Somerset. That Worcestershire won by eight runs emphasised how lesser talents, through the eternal values of line and length and competent catching, can still prevail.Needing 169 to win, Somerset needed 70 off 43 balls – virtually ten an over – when Trescothick was dismissed. His 49 from 38 balls had satisfied requirements, but throughout the innings only Buttler managed to pose the same threat.Trescothick was on the back of four ducks, a fact that led him to respond to mild Taunton barracking in the Championship defeat against Sussex by raising his bat in acknowledgment, encouraging fanciful theories that he might be about to enter retirement.He played more confidently here, not least against Gareth Andrew, his former team-mate. One six over long on smacked of timing of old and a chipped four over the head of extra cover off Moeen Ali was calculated through precise knowledge of the field placings.The Somerset captain had been stoutly defended on Twitter in the morning by Andy Nash, the Somerset chairman who, unusually for a cricket administrator, is prepared to vent his feelings on social media. “Don’t you dare write off Tres,” he threatened any critics. “The man is a legend and has my unconditional 100 per cent support. Period.”The danger with such comments is that they raise more questions than answers, particularly when he says he would rather Somerset were relegated from the first division of the Championship with him than stay up without him.But it was a pointless debate. Nobody could seriously have doubted that Trescothick’s form would pick up. He had made struck six fours and that six when he was caught at deep cover off Jack Shantry.Craig Kieswetter had gone in the first over, caught at short third man, and Nick Compton, whose technique, as we know, is not suited to this form of the game, was held at deep mid wicket. The catching and athleticism of Andre Russell, who caught both Trego and Compoton, was inspirational throughout the innings.Two sixes off Andrew by Buttler, one whistling past a balcony window in the Ondaatje Pavilion, brought the asking rate down to 34 off three overs, which was feasible if Buttler stayed in. For once, though, one of his scoops did not come off and James Hildreth went in the same over, to Joe Leach’s medium pace.The centrepiece of Worcestershire’s innings was 53 off 42 balls by Alexei Kervezee, who struck Steve Kirby for six over long on. Wickets fell about him, but Moeen Ali always appeared elegant, even when having to beetle on. Max Waller – surely his leg spin should be utilised more often, especially now the pitches are dry – bowled Daryl Mitchell with what appeared to be a top spinner, and had Russell caught at deep square leg.Somerset, at any rate on paper, have a considerably more powerful batting line-up than Worcestershire, and it did not seem to make sense to have Compton coming in at a stage of the innings when the scoring rate had to be improved. In other words, have him opening or held back to stave off a collapse. Somerset of yesteryear – and there have been many good ones – surely would have won this match.

Dinesh Karthik has set his sights on proving his worth as a specialist batsman for India in all three formats

Liam Brickhill in Bulawayo31-Jul-2013Such is MS Dhoni’s value as a player, it takes two men to replace him. But while one of the talking points of this tour has been how well Virat Kohli might fill Dhoni’s shoes as captain, rather fewer people have been discussing Dinesh Karthik’s merits as a wicketkeeper-batsman.If Karthik had it his own way, however, his keeping wouldn’t be a factor. Of all people, Karthik knows that the keeper’s gloves belong to Dhoni for the foreseeable future and so he has set his sights on proving his worth as a batsman for India in all three formats.”It’s not something I’ve ever felt bad about because I feel it’s a great opportunity playing with [Dhoni],” Karthik said. “I’ve always looked at myself [as someone who] can play as a batsman in this side and that’s what I’m looking to do – play as a batsman in all three formats of the game.”It was his batting as a teenager that first attracted the selectors’ attention, and once again the runs he scored during a fruitful IPL season with Mumbai Indians led to his recall in a simplified batting role for the Champions Trophy in June – his first games for India in three years. Karthik has also benefitted from some minor tweaks to his batting technique which have aided his balance at the crease.”I feel I have the technique,” Karthik said. “It’s important that every time I get an opportunity I pile up the runs and make sure I do well as a batsman. We won the Champions Trophy and that was great. West Indies was a quiet time, but Zimbabwe again in the two innings I’ve played I’ve done well.”Yet, Karthik’s figures do not quite convince. Since his return in England, Karthik has scored two fifties in 11 innings. Although the runs haven’t begun to flow just yet, on a few occasions since his recall Karthik had shown he has the ability to absorb pressure in the middle order after the loss of early wickets. Most recently, he entered the fray during the second ODI at Harare with India wobbling at 65 for 4. He didn’t need as much luck as his partner Shikhar Dhawan, who was dropped twice and caught off a no ball, and compiled a tidy 69 that helped set a match-winning total. His reaction to pressure situations like that will be key to Karthik’s future.”I’m looking forward to these things,” he said. “It’s important that you keep putting in performances every time you go into bat and be as consistent as you can, and that’s something I’m really looking forward to doing.”

Derbyshire are within believing distance, just about, of claiming a third victory in four matches after another day of high entertainment and, for a time at least, high farce involving Somerset wicketkeeper Craig Kieswetter.

David Lloyd at Taunton05-Sep-2013
ScorecardCraig Kieswetter found difficulty standing up to the stumps•Getty Images

Derbyshire are within believing distance, just about, of claiming a third victory in four matches after another day of high entertainment and, for a time at least, high farce involving Somerset wicketkeeper Craig Kieswetter.The side that just about everybody had written off as relegation certainties before their back-to-back victories over Sussex and Middlesex need another 117 runs to move above their equally anxious hosts and out of the bottom two.Crucially, perhaps, Shivnarine Chanderpaul remains unbeaten. The veteran left-hander has not enjoyed a vintage season, by any means, but if he can take Derbyshire across the winning line here than most of the county’s followers will forget he is averaging below 40.Defeat for Somerset, of course, would be a desperate blow for an outfit that was expected to occupy its accustomed place near the top of the table – and throw into even sharper focus the performance of Kieswetter during this match.Two horrible dismissals have not helped the home cause. But it was his performance behind the stumps this evening that had most on-lookers shaking their heads in disbelief.Having conceded 18 byes during Derbyshire’s first innings, the now former England one-day keeper had a nightmare few overs while standing up to Piyush Chawla. In one over alone, Kieswetter conceded nine byes – two sets of four and a single – as the leg-pinner turned the ball sharply from outside the off stump of two left-handed batsmen and down leg-side.Conditions, with the ball continuing to turn and bounce, were clearly awkward for 25-year-old Kieswetter, who has generally kept wicket in the Championship side ahead of another the man preferred to him in England’s one-day sides, Jos Buttler. But he struggled horribly and resorted to not only setting up outside leg stump but also, on at least one occasion, taking a full step back from the stumps.Kieswetter, with 71 England appearances to his name, also had his problems keeping to slow left-armer Jack Leach, but it was Chawla who gave him most difficulty as he let through a total of 22 byes – a potentially crucial number in this tight contest.Significantly, Chawla came out of the attack for 10 overs when there seemed absolutely no tactical reason for his removal. Thankfully for Kieswetter, Chawla quickly dismissed one left-hander – opener Ben Slater – on his return and the arrival of right-handed nightwatchman Tony Palladino made life easier behind the stumps.Even so, when Chanderpaul was on strike home captain Marcus Trescothick posted a fine leg who was so fine that he would be called a long stop lower down the cricketing ladder.Still, despite all this Somerset are by no means out of the contest. The removal of Palladino – snicking Chawla to slip – off what became the last ball of the day removed one irritant. And if Chanderpaul goes early on the final morning them the balance of power will tilt firmly away from the visitors.Chawla is Somerset’s most obvious matchwinner. But Leach, appearing in only his eighth first-class match, has also taken two wickets so far and has a big part to play.”Derbyshire may feel comfortable but they are probably twitchy as well,” said Nick Compton, who top-scored for the hosts and had sympathy for Kieswetter. “It’s difficult when the ball is turning as much as it was.”Somerset had added 207 for their last six wickets which, if not beyond their wildest dreams, certainly exceeded the expectations of most home supporters at start of play.The middle and lower order made the most of the situation, especially after Compton – the rock they all hoped to bat around – was the first victim of the day. Having looked set for his third Championship century of the season, he played on when trying to force Palladino off the back foot.Thereafter, a maiden first-class half-century from Lewis Gregory plus decidedly handy contributions from Craig Meschede and No. 11 Leach kept Derbyshire waiting much longer than they had hoped to begin their chase.But none of that seemed to matter much while openers Slater – with an excellent 59 – and Paul Borrington were slowly but surely knocking 49 from the target. But once Borrington and Wayne Madsen went, the spotlight shifted onto Somerset’s spinners and, unfortunately for Kieswetter, onto the man behind the stumps.