Two first-class bests dominate day three for the Foxes

DAY THREE | Somerset CCC 461 for nine dec. v Leicestershire CCC 390 for seven

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REPORT | Harry Swindells records his second first-class century for the Running Foxes and a first-class best, and Ed Barnes records a maiden first-class half-century in a day three dominated by Leicestershire’s batting.

Day three got underway in the midst of England’s COVID outbreak, with the whole squad named for the upcoming Royal London Series against Pakistan required to isolate following seven positive cases amongst the party.

This meant that a whole new 18-man squad was named minutes ahead of the beginning of day three at Taunton, with Somerset’s stand-in captain Craig Overton earning a call-up.

In Overton’s absence, the hosts handed seam bowler Kasey Aldridge his first-class debut.

Fifteen deliveries into the third day and the Running Foxes brought up their ton as Josh Inglis whipped Josh Davey off his pads and away for his third four of the innings.

The same man who brought up County’s one hundredth run was the next man out for the Foxes.

Off the bowling of Jack Brooks, Inglis (27) looked to leave the delivery that pitched outside off-stump and crashed into his front pad.

Leicestershire were 117 for four as Harry Swindells joined Ackermann (32*) in the middle.

The partnership had been together for 45 minutes before Swindells brought up the County 150, after helping Davey’s leg side delivery down to fine leg for his third four of the innings.

The Foxes captain then went on to record his half-century after driving de Lange through the covers for three. The fifty came from 130 balls and included seven fours in what was becoming a superb innings for Leicestershire.

Ackermann then flicked de Lange off his hips in the next over to bring up the fifth wicket partnerships fiftieth run, coming in 86 balls, and both batsmen looking in good touch in the middle having fought through early barrage from the Somerset attack.

The players were then removed from the field of play at 12:53pm with an early lunch called due to a downpour in Somerset, meaning the Running Foxes lunched on 175 for four, with Ackermann leading the way on 67*, accompanied by Swindells on 23*.

The afternoon session got underway at 13:45 as the shower that brought in an early lunch had passed over the Cooper Associates County Ground.

The hosts struck in the first over of the second session of the day, Ackermann falling to the bowling of de Lange for 67 as Ben Mike joined Swindells (23*) in the middle.

The Foxes skipper played down the wrong line of the delivery that came back in, went through the gate and crashed into the stumps.

Four overs later and de Lange nearly claimed his second wicket in quick succession as Swindells (23*) edged his delivery that was angled into off-stump.

The ball deflected away to the new Somerset skipper, James Hildreth, at first slip who did not manage to take the simple catch.

Mike then went on to bring up the 200th run for County, and with it, the first batting bonus point after driving Lammonby away for his second four of the innings.

Swindells brought up his half-century soon after as he drove Aldridge into the off-side for three “ the fifty came up from 120 balls and included seven fours.

Three balls before Swindells brought up his half-century, the fifth wicket partnership moved on to their third life following another drop in the slips.

Mike was the man who edged through Brooks’ delivery but van der Merwe could not hang on to the low catch down to his right.

The Foxes man then began to make the most of his reprieve as he sent Aldridge for back-to-back boundaries as the Running Foxes recorded 13 off the next over.

The 250 was brought up for the Running Foxes by Swindells as he drove Brooks away through point for his ninth four of the day.

Somerset soon found the breakthrough for the fifth wicket as Hildreth made no mistake this time, and caught the edge of Mike (40) off the bowling of de Lange.

Callum Parkinson joined Swindells (62*) in the middle and immediately got his boundaries underway after flicking de Lange down to fine leg for four from his first ball faced. He then repeated the feat two balls later as the South African went for nine runs.

Parkinson’s wicket was soon up, though, following a wicked deflection off a de Lange delivery.

The Foxes man saw the South-African’s bouncer pop up off his gloves and caught diving to his left by Devon Conway at third slip. Parkinson went for 12 as Ed Barnes joined Swindells (66*) in the middle.

The County wicketkeeper brought the afternoon session to a close with a flurry of boundaries, after taking tea on 80*, accompanied by Barnes (2*) with the Foxes on 290 for seven, just 22 runs away from avoiding the follow-on.

Ed Barnes opened the evening session with his first four of the day, after flicking Brooks’ full toss away for four.

Just under four overs later and Swindells recorded his fourteenth four of the innings after lofting Brooks away over the slips and over the rope at third man to help the Foxes successfully avoid the follow-on.

Swindells then tuned his half-century into a century after crashing de Lange away through the off-side for his fifteenth four of the innings. The ton came from 186 balls.

The Foxes then entered the 110th over requiring 12 runs from it to earn their fourth batting bonus point, and three fours Barnes including a flick off his toes for four from the final ball of it saw the 350 runs brought up just in time.         

Barnes then brought up his maiden first-class half-century, seven overs later after sweeping van der Merwe away for his eleventh four of the day. The fifty came from 65 balls and included eleven fours.

Play then came to a halt for bad light at 5:37pm with the Running Foxes sitting 71 runs behind Somerset’s first innings total, on 390 for seven, with Swindells (119*) and Barnes (54*) in the middle. The day subsequently came to a close after the umpires confirmed their decision at 6:04pm.

FIGURES (1st inns) | Overton 12-3-33-1, Davey 14-3-34-1, Brooks 24-7-64-2, de Lange 23.1-3-95-3, Aldridge 17-1-76-0, van der Merwe 18-6-40-0, Lammonby 14-3-41-0

TEAM | Rishi Patel, Lewis Hill, Marcus Harris, Colin Ackermann (C), Josh Inglis, Harry Swindells (wk), Ben Mike, Callum Parkinson, Gavin Griffiths, Ed Barnes, Will Davis

SOMERSET CCC | Devon Conway, Steve Davies (wk), Tom Lammonby, James Hildreth, George Bartlett, Lewis Goldsworthy, Craig Overton (C), Roelof van de Merwe, Jack Brooks, Marchant de Lange, Josh Davey

IMAGES | Thanks to John Mallett of Outside Off for providing the images throughout the game.