County Championship Division One - day two (close)

Nottinghamshire 133 & 115-3 v Somerset 463

SOMERSET captain Tom Abell took a hat-trick as his side asserted their dominance over Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge, sealing second place in the County Championship in the process.

Abell's 'golden arm' spell wrapped up the Nottinghamshire innings on 133, 330 runs adrift of Somerset's 463, and two late wickets saw the hosts end the day on 115-3 following on.

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The day had begun with the Overton twins at the crease, and they took Somerset to within six runs of maximum batting points when Craig was well caught at square leg for 23.

Jamie went on to complete a fifth First Class half-century, well supported by Josh Davey (21), but Overton was the last man out for 55 with Somerset on 463.

The visitors made a perfect start with the ball as Jake Libby edged the second ball of the innings to slip - Jack Leach juggled it and Craig Overton took the rebound.

The same player then took two wickets with the score on 50, including Ben Duckett for a golden duck, as Somerset picked up their sixth point of the match to make sure of second spot - and around £220,000 in prize money.

The hosts proceeded to collapse, with Gregory claiming 3-36 and Craig Overton 4-27 before Abell arrived to finish off the innings in style.

The Somerset skipper had Luke Fletcher, Harry Gurney and Luke Wood caught in the slips with successive deliveries to claim his first career hat-trick and end with remarkable figures of 3-0 in 1.3 overs.

Notts lost Libby (12) early again in their follow on, but Ben Slater and captain Steven Mullaney added 97 to restore some pride for the hosts, who had earlier secured their status in Division One as a result of Lancashire's failure to reach 300 at Hampshire.

Jack Leach, not required in the first innings, entered the fray to pick up the key wicket of Mullaney (54) before Jamie Overton removed night-watchman Fletcher without scoring with what turned out to be the final ball of the day.

Slater will resume in the morning unbeaten on 45, with Notts still 215 runs in arrears.

Speaking at the close, Abell said: “It’s all a bit surreal because I didn’t anticipate that at the start of the day. But I’m delighted to contribute personally and it’s been a great day for us as a side, finishing the innings as we did was fantastic and then to bowl the way we did was awesome.

“It happened very quickly and is a bit of a blur but there was a little bit of swing and I tried to bowl in a decent area.

"The first one (Fletcher) took off a little bit and took the edge, the second one (Carter) wasn’t a great ball but sometimes these things go your way and then I just to replicate it and thought ‘what will be, will be’. It was a great catch from Craig O and I was in disbelief.

“I’ve got the ball and will keep it because it’s probably the only time this will happen. I’m going to savour it.”