Teenager Matt Carter enjoyed the most successful debut by an off-spinner in the English County Championship for 77 years when he took seven for 56 to bowl Nottinghamshire into a strong position in their First Division match away to Somerset on Monday
London: Teenager Matt Carter enjoyed the most successful debut by an off-spinner in the English County Championship for 77 years when he took seven for 56 to bowl Nottinghamshire into a strong position in their First Division match away to Somerset on Monday.
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Somerset were well-placed at 112 for two in reply to Nottinghamshire's first innings 410 -- which included former Zimbabwe batsman Brendan Taylor's 152 -- when 19-year-old Carter started to make inroads from the River End at Taunton.
He took seven wickets in just 12 overs at a cost of 45 runs, with James Hildreth, caught behind, Tom Cooper, out to a top-edged sweep, Michael Bates, caught at leg gully, and Alfonso Thomas, caught at mid-wicket, among the tall Taylor's victims as Somerset were dismissed for 200. Carter's figures were the best by a spinner on Championship debut since Australian Jack Walsh took seven for 46 for Leicestershire against Northamptonshire in 1938.
By stumps, Nottinghamshire were 89 for four in their second innings -- a lead of 299 runs with two days left in this four-day match. "My first ball was a nervous one, but the lads were talking to me and after my first over was finished I felt a lot more confident," said Carter. "It's always nice to see a ball turn, especially on day two, and that is a bonus for me because my height allows me to get extra bounce.
"When I first started bowling I didn't turn the ball much, but now I have worked on a few things and turn it more. Getting my first wicket (Hildreth) was a really proud moment for me, but my best ball was the one that got Alfonso Thomas. "He came down the wicket aiming to hit me over the top and when the ball spun he hit a catch to mid-wicket. It's a day I will never forget."
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