Arul Suppiah, James Hildreth and Wesley Durston hit 49 boundaries as Somerset posted a first-innings total of 460 in a close match against Derbyshire. Suppiah passed fifty for the first time in his first-class career with a five-hour 123, while Durston was stranded on 146 not out – his only century of the season. Graeme Welch took four for 82 to get the best bowling figures for Derbyshire. However, Derbyshire's tactic of slow attrition worked well against Somerset's frontline bowlers Andy Caddick and Ian Blackwell. They made 438, in a total of 149 overs, before declaring with eight men down – four Derbyshire batsmen making fifties, Ant Botha top-scoring with 91, while 40 overs from Caddick yielded four for 102. Botha added 170 in an eighth-wicket partnership with Welch. Somerset then made 61 in 32 third-day overs, building a lead of 83 with nine wickets in hand.