Podmore puts Middlesex on top at Somerset
Somerset 236: Rogers 57; Podmore 4-54, Harris 3-67
Middlesex 51-1: Gubbins 31*, Eskinazi 7*; C. Overton 1-18
Close, day one: Middlesex trail Somerset by 185 runs
Hammersmith-born Harry Podmore claimed four wickets on his first County Championship appearance for Middlesex as they bowled Somerset out for 236 on the opening day at Taunton.
Having made a late decision to switch from a dry-looking strip to a very green one, the hosts were indebted to Chris Rogers (57), Jim Allenby (44) and Marcus Trescothick (35) for securing a bonus point in testing conditions.
Podmore (4-54), James Harris (3-67) and James Fuller (3-72) profited from excellent seam bowling conditions after the visitors had not surprisingly elected to field.
On a rain-affected day, Somerset had put only six runs on the board when Johann Myburgh edged Fuller through to wicketkeeper John Simpson for the first wicket of the day.
Rogers and Trescothick then produced the most positive strokeplay of the day, punishing anything loose in their second-wicket stand of 71, until the ex-England man edged onto his stumps.
Former Middlesex skipper Rogers moved to an attractive half-century off 68 balls, with 10 fours, and was still there at lunch, with his side 125-3.
Soon after the interval came the first rain break, with 30 minutes lost. When play resumed Middlesex bowled a better line and length, reaping reward with four wickets.
Rogers was caught by the diving Simpson after leg-glancing a ball from Podmore, who was making only his third first-class appearance having played on loan for Glamorgan earlier in the season.
The 21-year-old then had Peter Trego caught behind, while James Harris accounted for Craig Overton (0) and Alex Barrow (10) to leave Somerset 184-7 at tea, taken early after rain.
After the break, Jamie Overton was caught at first slip aiming a full-blooded drive at Podmore, before the weather forced the players off for a third time.
All the while, Allenby had been compiling a valuable knock before edging Podmore behind to give Simpson a fifth victim, before Fuller ended things with the wicket of Jack Leach as Rayner took a fine catch at slip.
Middlesex closed on 51-1, losing Sam Robson lbw to the second ball of the innings. Nick Gubbins was unbeaten on 31.
