Thirteen wickets fell on the third day at Taunton, as Nottinghamshire battled to stay in contention with Somerset, after being dismissed for 156.

Only Chris Read, with 56, put together any sustained resistance against the home attack, for whom Gemaal Hussain shone with figures of 4- 29.

Handicapped by a succession of ailments Notts did well under the circumstances to take six home wickets but couldn’t dislodge James Hildreth, who ended on an unbeaten 63 out of a score of 187-6, a lead of 31.

The eighth delivery of the morning accounted for Adam Voges (5), who fell without any addition to Nottinghamshire’s overnight score.

Pushing at a swinging delivery from Alfonso Thomas, he edged to Trescothick at second slip.

Read joined James Taylor and together they survived a difficult passage of play, with the stalemate broken unexpectedly.

Midway through his eleventh over of the innings (and his third of the day) Thomas pulled up sharply and left the field. Without being able to have a proper warm-up, Steve Kirby was given the remainder of the over and Read punched him away emphatically, for three successive boundaries.

The loss of Thomas produced further runs, as his replacement as sub fielder, Jake Lintott, fired in a return from fine leg which went high over Jos Buttler and gave Taylor three bonus overthrow runs.

Peter Trego had bowled unchanged from the River Tone End for the opening 32 overs of the match – spread over three days – but when he was relieved by Gemaal Hussain Read went on the attack, pulling him for six towards fine leg and then swatting him back over his head for four more.

Read and Taylor added 72 for the 5th wicket, before a debutant came on to end the stand.

Abdur Rehman, Pakistan’s slow left-arm Test spinner, struck with just his second delivery in county cricket as Taylor (21) was given out lbw, sweeping.

The Notts skipper reached his half century from just 63 balls (10x4 1x6) but was one of two to fall as Hussain switched ends and delivered a double-wicket maiden.

Read (52) presented Trescothick with his fourth catch of the innings, snicking the returning Hussain.

The bowler, who appeared on a couple of occasions for Notts 2nd X1 in 2007, then had Ben Phillips (0)taken by Peter Trego at third slip.

Graeme Swann (5) drove Hussain down the ground to take him past 2,000 first class runs for Notts but then edged the final ball before lunch to give Trescothick his fifth catch – equalling a county record.

Andre Adams (0) collected his sixth duck of the season – and third first-baller of the campaign – as he skied Hussain to mid on.

The catcher was Steve Kirby, who claimed his first wicket of the innings when he pegged back Harry Gurney’s (0) leg stump, leaving Paul Franks unbeaten on 11.

Five wickets had gone down for fourteen runs – and that soon became six wickets. With just the second ball of the reply Trescothick (0) nudged Phillips to Adams at gully.

Notts toiled against Chris Jones (28) and Arul Suppiah (35) without much success, as the pair added 63 for the second wicket.

Adams then dismissed both in quick succession as Steve O’Shaughnessy gave a positive response to one of many lbw appeals and then Jones miscued a pull to Phillips at mid on.

James Hildreth scored an unbeaten century when the sides met at Trent Bridge earlier in the season and began in confident mood, regularly finding the cover ropes.

With partner James Buttler, he shared in a stand of 91 for the fourth wicket. Buttler’s most eye-catching shot came early in his innings as he heaved Swann into the Marcus Trescothick Stand.

As the afternoon heat took its toll, Notts found themselves down to their bare-bones in terms of personnel. Riki Wessels was off the field for a couple of hours, having treatment to an abcess.

Harry Gurney left the action after completing his opening spell – and failed to return, whilst Adams hobbled with obvious pain before being persuaded to leave the field.

The absentees meant that twelfth man Andy Carter – and more surprisingly, 41 year-old coach Wayne Noon - fielded for most of the innings. Even Mick Newell, director of cricket, appeared with drinks on a couple of occasions.

Paul Franks, at his most combative, came to Notts rescue when it was most needed. He had an lbw appeal against Hildreth turned down when the hosts were only two behind but, undeterred, he then came up with wickets in successive overs.

Buttler (39) edged the all-rounder to Hales at slip and Lewis Gregory (1) snicked through to Read.

Graeme Swann ensured a second bowling point when he saw off Peter Trego (8) to another catch at the wicket but Hildreth and Abdur Rehman (12 not out) ensured there no further alarms.