Specsavers County Championship
Day one
Middlesex (yet to bat), Somerset (161-5)

SOMERSET'S middle order fragility was exposed once again at Lord's, but Dean Elgar's half-century restored some hope before an early finish to the day due to rain and bad light.

The visitors won the toss and chose to bat first, which did not look a good decision when Marcus Trescothick went for eight (caught by Stephen Eskinazi off the bowling of Toby-Roland Jones) in the third over.

A bad start got worse soon after, as captain Tom Abell went for six (caught behind by John Simpson off Tim Murtagh).

James Hildreth helped Elgar steady the ship somewhat, reaching 66 before he was nabbed by Ollie Rayner off James Franklin for 25.

Steve Davies (6) and Peter Trego (2) also departed, Tom Helm claiming the former and Murtagh the latter, to leave Somerset 80-5.

Crucially Elgar kept plugging away, supported by Lewis Gregory, and he reached his 50 (off 109 balls, seven 4s) to take the away side up to 119-5.

That pair were still in the middle when rain stopped play at 161-5 (Elgar 77 and Gregory 27), and the weather ensured an early finish to the day.

***

Second XI Trophy semi-final
Yorkshire (76-1) beat Somerset (328 all out) by three runs (DLS)

JIM Allenby's century proved not quite enough for the Somerset 2nd XI in a rain-affected match in Taunton, as Yorkshire were given the victory by three runs via the Duckworth-Lewis method.

Allenby scored 101 off 94 balls (11 4s and two 6s), with Johann Myburgh adding 35, Eddie Byrom 51 and Tim Rouse 64 as the hosts made 328 all out at the Cooper Associates County Ground.

In reply, Harry Brook scored 47 in Yorkshire's 76-1, before the rain intervened.

The 12 overs batted by Yorkshire were enough for a valid result, and they were given the win via an ECB decision, meaning that Somerset fell agonisingly close to a final spot.