Somerset enjoy better of day two

Scorecard

REPORT | By Pete Johnson

Taunton Vale was shrouded in mist when we arrived for day two of the SEF between Somerset and Leicestershire. The relatively new Clubhouse at this fine sporting complex was opened by Somerset and England cricketer Andy Caddick on June 1, 2003. The Clubhouse being shared by the cricket club, and a thriving hockey club.

A group of children from a local Primary School were having an impromptu game of football prior to having some hockey coaching before play started. When one of them scored a goal he wheeled away shouting Jamie Vardy. Music to the ears!

The nearby Hockey Stadium appears to have been given a major shot in the arm by the outstanding exploits of the GB Ladies Hockey team at the Rio Olympics. When play commenced at 10.30am the mist had lifted and the sun was about to burn off the cloud cover.

Leicestershire had the better of day one, but the tables were turned on day two as Somerset had by far the better of the day, and put themselves in a commanding position going into day three, leading by 324 runs with two second innings wickets remaining.

Somerset skipper Adam Hose was the star of the day featuring in two half-century, and one century partnership, in all 3 of which he was the dormant partner.

Leicestershire resumed on their overnight 129-3, trailing by 54 runs, with Aadil Ali 42* and Rob Sayer 36*. Slow left armer George Dockrell had joined up with the Leicestershire team on Day two, having been on international duty with Ireland the previous day. Unfortunately the Emerald Isle’s sides game was washed out without a ball being bowled.

County got off to the worst possible start losing both Ali and Sayer in the first two overs of the morning, with neither batsmen adding to their overnight score. Ali (42) edged seamer Josh Davey behind to keeper Banton, and Sayer (36) became a bargain for Sale when the seamer trapped him lbw.

Harry Swindells (29 from 44 balls) was the only Leicestershire batsman today to offer any resistance. Swindells stroked three lovely boundaries, and looked on as Rob Taylor (9) went caught in the gully area by Hose off spinner Rouse, and Tom Nightingale (0) went caught at short leg by Byrom off leg-spinner Max Waller.

Swindells was the eighth wicket to fall, the score being on 167 when he was caught at slip by Rouse, again off Waller. The innings then soon folded as Dockrell (1) was lbw to Waller, and last man Gavin Griffiths (0) followed the same fate. County all out for 170, losing 7 wickets for 41 runs before lunch in 19 overs, trailing by 13 runs.

Somerset batted for 14 overs before lunch progressing to 29-1. Allenby (12) being the batsman out, caught and bowled by Dockrell, in his first over. County had some success in the first hour after lunch, but afterwards Somerset took control.

Rouse (6) went caught at slip by Ali off James Sykes. Soon afterwards George Bartlett (16) was bowled by Rob Sayer, leaver the Cidermen on 58-3. One run had been added when Sam Underdown (23) was caught behind by Swindells off Sayer.

Then followed a half-century partnership between Hose and Waller from 70 balls, their milestone coming up after 35 overs. Without any addition to the score Waller (26) was trapped lbw by Rob Sayer, who was delivering another marathon afternoon spell.

Rob Sayer was probably doing as much spinning of the ball in the afternoon as Steve Wright does records in the afternoon on Radio 2. (I know Wrighty probably uses CDs or downloads but I am old school). Somerset were now on 109-5.

Hose then found another ally in Ben Green, the pair adding 50 in 77 balls taking the score to 159. A further 11 runs had been added when Green ((29) went lbw to Aadil Ali. Somerset went into tea on 182-6 from 53 overs. Hose 46* and Davey 8*.

During the afternoon session the scorebox had become extremely warm as you could not remove the glass panel at the front, and the sun was shining full pelt onto it. My scoring colleague Colin took my mind off of the excessive heat within however, by debriefing me on his exploits following Yeovil Town FC down the years.

Col ‘the King of Cool’ is a season ticket holder with the Glovers and gave me a detailed account of Yeovil’s 0-3 home defeat to Blackpool last Saturday, and his ideas on what they should do in next Saturday’s six pointer at home to Hartlepool.

As a seasoned football supporter I do admire people who follow their team in the lower reaches of the Football League, only 8 years ago I was doing it with Leicester. However, the mighty LCFC have bigger fish to fry on Saturday with a trip up to Anfield.

I digress, back to the cricket. With the first ball of the second over after tea, Davey (9) went caught behind by Swindells off Griffiths, a first wicket for the Foxes for the Ormskirk Obliterator. Immediately Hose went to his 50, reeling off his half-century from 96 balls (4x4). Hose then went on to be involved in a 50 and subsequently 100 partnership with Ed Byrom, who had opened the innings in Somerset’s first dig.

The pair’s 50 partnership came up from 73 balls, and their 100 partnership (143 balls) coincided with Byrom posting his half century (8x4/86 balls).

Whilst County were struggling, the ground was a hive of activity. In the room adjacent to me there must have been at least eight Ladies Hockey and Netball Teams enrolling for various sorts of tuition, training etc. Being the dedicated professional that I am, I was able to keep my eyes on the cricket of course (thought I better put that in just in case Mrs J reads this).

Hose’s superb innings came to an end when he was caught at cover by Harry Dearden, giving Ali a second wicket. Hose playing a captain’s knock making 90 runs from 148 deliveries, which may prove crucial in the outcome of this match.

Byrom 59* and Banton 13* saw Somerset safely to Stumps on 311-8, a lead of 324. Rob Sayer picking up three wickets to go with his four from the first innings, and Ali weighing in with two. A wicket apiece for Griffiths, Sykes, and Dockrell.

Although Tom Wells did not get a wicket he bowled 11 overs for just 22 runs. Rob Taylor also went wicketless, bowling five overs for 18 runs. With a minimum of 96 overs to be bowled it will be a tough ask for Leicestershire to chase that score down, but you never know.