Somerset 16 for 0 trail Derbyshire 266 (Johnson 56, Madsen 50) by 250 runs
Scorecard
Derbyshire wicketkeeper Richard Johnson scored a defiant half-century to lead a lower-order fightback in their Championship match against Somerset at Derby. Johnson made 56 and shared an eighth-wicket stand of 82 in 22 overs with Tony Palladino as Derbyshire's last four wickets added 125.
Wayne Madsen also made 50 while Alfonso Thomas and Jamie Overton each took three wickets for Somerset who closed the first day of the Division One basement battle 250 runs behind on 16 without loss.
The County Ground was under cloud when Somerset when the toss so it was no surprise that Marcus Trescothick put Derbyshire in on a green pitch and was quickly rewarded with the wicket of Billy Godleman. Overton sent down five no-balls in his opening spell but a legitimate delivery found the outside edge of Godleman's bat in the sixth over and Trescothick held a low catch at second slip.
With the ball swinging in the overcast conditions, both Chesney Hughes and Madsen had some good fortune but Somerset had to wait another 15 overs for their next success. Hughes had moved to 25 when he got a leading edge against Thomas and the ball went quickly to Trescothick, who again made no mistake.
There was an even bigger wicket in the last over of the session. Craig Meschede had troubled the batsmen with late swing and he got his reward on the stroke of lunch when Shivnarine Chanderpaul pushed forward and was caught behind for 5.
When former Somerset batsman Wes Durston went cheaply to Thomas in the third over after the interval, Derbyshire were 99 for 4 and in need of another rescue act from Madsen. He responded by reaching 50 for the sixth time in eight Championship innings but in the next over Steve Kirby had him lbw and the fast bowler struck again when Ben Slater gave Trescothick his third slip catch.
Derbyshire were in danger of missing out on batting points when Jon Clare inside-edged a drive at Thomas and was caught behind but Palladino marked his return from a side strain by helping Johnson mount a recovery.
Johnson brought up the 200 when he cover-drove Kirby for four but he should have gone on 34 when he edged Thomas to first slip, where James Hildreth dropped a straightforward catch. It proved costly for Somerset as the pair put together a 50 stand in 15 overs, with Palladino clipping Kirby through midwicket to secure a second batting point.
He was one away from a half-century when he edged Peter Trego to second slip where Trescothick plucked another excellent catch, and Johnson's fine innings ended when he steered Overton to gully in the next over. Overton yorked Mark Footitt to finish with 3 for 35, which left Somerset with seven overs to negotiate.
England opener Nick Compton was missed on 2 when a mistimed hook at Footitt was put down by Slater diving at leg gully, but there were no further alarms.
Madsen, Johnson keep Derbs respectable
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Madsen, Johnson keep Derbs respectable
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Madsen, Johnson keep Derbs respectable
