Migael returns in style on day two
Migael Pretorius returned to the Somerset side with panache on the second day of this Rothesay County Championship Division One match against Nottinghamshire at the Cooper Associates County Ground.
The South African all rounder arrived in Taunton just a matter of days ago to start his latest stint with the Club and was the pick of the Somerset attack, claiming all three Notts wickets to fall after the hosts were dismissed before lunch.
The home side resumed on 292 for six and it wasn’t long before Jack Leach crashed Olly Stone to the boundary to bring up the Somerset 300 and secure a second batting point.
Unfortunately for Leach, he then mistimed a drive off Dillon Pennington straight to Ben Slater at short cover and departed for 11 at 309 for seven.
Craig Overton and Migael Pretorius added 22 for the eighth wicket in brutish fashion before the latter took one mighty swing too many at Pennington and was bowled for 11.
Overton, who began the day on 32, reached his 20th First Class half century for Somerset by smashing a short one from Robert Lord to the square leg boundary. His milestone achieved from 71 balls with nine fours.
The hosts were 11 runs shy of another batting point when Alfie Ogborne (2) dragged a wide one from Pennington onto his stumps.
Overton and Jake Ball edged their side closer to the 350-mark but with the scoreboard showing 347, Ball was caught at third slip by a diving Jack Haynes at third slip to the clear frustration of the Somerset batters.
Pennington was the pick of the bowlers, claiming five for 65 from his 26.5 overs.
Nottinghamshire openers, Slater and Haseeb Hameed had taken the visitors to 34 when the lunch interval arrived.
Pretorius was brought into the attack to bowl the second over after lunch and it proved to be an inspired decision as he removed Slater (30) with an absolute beauty which nipped back, beat the outside edge and clattered into the off stump.
59 for one soon became 72 for two when Tom Lammonby took a good catch low down to his left at cover to remove Hameed for 33 and give Pretorius his second wicket.
The Nottinghamshire 100 arrived in the 32nd over, but with the score on 114 an early tea was taken due to rain.
When the players returned, Joe Clarke survived a vociferous lbw appeal from Overton before he and Freddie McCann brought up the 50-run partnership for the third wicket.
Just when it looked like the two Notts batters were set fair, Pretorius struck again to remove McCann for 31, forcing him to edge to Tom Kohler Cadmore at first slip at 128 for three in the 36th over.
The score passed the 150-mark in the 45th over and the visitors had reached 171 for three when bad light stopped play.
Play eventually resumed shortly before 5:15pm and almost immediately Clarke reached his 50 from 99 deliveries. The 200 then arrived after 60 overs and Haynes reached his 50 shortly thereafter from 76 balls.
Bad light again intervened just after 6pm but this time it was terminal.
Notts will resume on 218 for three on day three, trailing by 129.
