Somerset are more than Abell to recover after Abbas’ damage

CENTURIES from James Rew and Tom Abell in a county-record partnership enabled Somerset to take an opening-day advantage over Nottinghamshire in the clash between second and third in Division One of the Rothesay County Championship, closing on 338 for four.

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Rew (162 not out) and Abell, who fell for a career-best 156 moments before the close, added 313 in 81 overs, overtaking the 310 shared by Peter Denning and Ian Botham against Gloucestershire at Taunton in 1980 as Somerset's biggest fourth-wicket stand

It was all the more impressive for Somerset having been two wickets down in three overs without a run on the board when Rew walked to the crease, and 25 for three when he was joined by Abell.

Pakistan seamer Mohammad Abbas - who reached the milestone of 800 first-class victims - took all three wickets in a difficult first hour for the visitors after losing the toss but they were the only successes for the Nottinghamshire attack until the final minutes of the day.

Rew earned a call-up to the England squad for the one-off Test against Zimbabwe in May after two centuries in the first month of the season.

The 21-year-old did not make the cut on that occasion but senior international recognition must surely come in time.