da premier bet： Lancashire seamer Glen Chapple took 6-46 as Somerset were skittled for 204 at Taunton in the CricInfo Championship
Richard Latham20-Apr-2001Glen Chapple bustled out Somerset’s middle-order to take 6-46 as Lancashireenjoyed the better of exchanges after winning the toss on a cold, but clearopening day at Taunton.Having bowled out the home side for a modest 204, the visitors replied with114-3, losing Mark Chilton to the final delivery of the day for a solid 53.That full-length ball from Richard Johnson, which smashed Chilton full onthe boot, gave the former Middlesex seamer his second Somerset wicket andbacked up the county’s hopes that he can fill tbe centrally contracted AndyCaddick’s boots this season.Johnson ended the day with 2-36 from 13.5 overs. His efforts, allied tothose of Championship debutant Joe Tucker, Steffan Jones and Graham Rose,suggested it will be no easy ride for Lancashire to establish a commandingfirst innings advantage on a pitch offering the pace bowlers plenty ofencouragement.Chapple exploited it perfectly with good variation of pace and perfectlength to take 5-28 from 7.5 overs after lunch, bowling from the River End.Skipper Jamie Cox had earlier done his best to guide Somerset out oftrouble, driving exquisitely both straight and through the covers, to make66 in confident style.But once he departed to leave the total 120-4 Chapple ripped into top gearand soon the scoreboard read 158-8. Somerset were then indebted to some lateorder belligerence from Johnson and Steffan Jones to scramble them to asolitary batting point.Ryan Driver and John Crawley both fell cheaply, despite a cautious approach,when Lancashire replied, while Chilton needed a life on 17, dropped by KeithDutch diving to his right at third slip off Jones. The opener profited toreach his half-century off 114 balls, with 10 fours.