Somerset
3 Day University warm up - Exeter Uni @Taunton Easter Sunday
By Grockle
March 31 2024
Lewis Gregory starts his captaincy regime with a 3 day game versus the Exeter Uni on a grey - but green Taunton day at the end of the Easter weekend. Not really sure what we can take ferom this until it has happened to be honest. The Uni games are not First Class any more but some of the squads are better competition than others. So let's suck it and see. I will add comments here as the game goes on.
Somerset v Exeter University @ Taunton Sunday 31 March . 2 .024
Somerset bat first in this game and open with Lammonby and Dickson. Not a lot to read into that as Matt Renshaw will be arriving this week. Tom Banton is not in this squad - not sure what to read into that... the season wil pan out I am sure - but it as been mentioned that he is out of contract at the end of this summer.
Other than that the squad is pretty much as expected;
Dickson, Lammonby, Abell, Goldsworthy, Gregory, Rew, Green, Aldridge, Ball, Davey, Bashir, Leonard, Overton
TKC is in India at the IPL, Sutherland is no longer available due to injury (announcement pending on replacement), Umeed and Leach are presumed not yet fit for selection and Banton?
Although this is part of the university season I believe, they seem happy to use this as a sel ection fixture and have agreed that Somerset can use their 13 while they have a side of 15. Interestin g and confusing but just what Jason Kerr willl have wanted to be honest. It also seems that we are using Kookaburra balls in this game.
So with Weatherall (River end) and Charlsworth (Pavilion) having bowled 3 each, Somerset are on 10 for 0 with both bats on 5 in overcast con. ditions but starting on time.
The Somerset 50 comes up in the 15th and then the 2 bats start to open up a bit unti Tom Lammonby goes for 40 to a slip catch off the bowling of Sam Daniel. 77 for 1 at the start of the 19th. Tom Abell is the next man in.
Sean Dickson goes to a 59 ball 50 at 15 in the 23rd. Let's hope this is a good start to his season - though he did do this last year in the friendlies as well. Both opening bats got moving though so there is something to be positive about - though the Aussie student Draca has been given a good selection of half-volleyopportunities in his first spell.
Dickson continues to find gaps and becomes the first Somerset bat to put one in the river in 2024 to move the score to 12 in the 25th and his own score to 67. then with the score on 137, Tom Abell pulls up at the end of the first run of two with what looks like a hamstring twinge and immediately leaves the field with a score of 25 after strolling back for the second. He isn't hobbling but we have to hope this is just precautionary and it is nothing that a couple of days rest won't solve. Out comes Lewis Goldsworthy at number 4.
At lunch Somerset have reached 139/1 with Dickson on 73 and Goldsworthy yet to get off the mark (it will be doubtful that Tom Abell will bat again in this game so it is effectively for 2). A better position than most Somerset games from last summer but it is early days - would be good to see our opening partnership do this in Kent next week but that will be an entirely different scenario. We can but hope.
Returning to the game after an Easter Sunday carvery at the ground (very nice though I'm not sure what the point of a 'carvery' is when you are served everything). It's a bit pricey but the quality is always good. The comments at lunch that Somerset were 'on top' at 139 for 1 were met with the usualcomment that 'you are watching Somerset in the first innings of a red ball game - are they ever on top?
Well Dickson went to the first ball of the afternoon session for 73 LBW to Charlesworth who was running in like a student possessed and nearly had Rew first ball. Goldsworthy did not last long, facing 10 balls without scoring before being caught and bowled. Rew moved the score to 165 with his individual score on 17 before he was bowled by Cutmore and it was left to the skipper to come in and steady the ship to take the score over 200 before he sent a ball to Thilo from Weatherall at 209 to depart for 37.
Moving towards Tea, Green and Aldridge have moved the score past 250 to 254 in the end of the 58th with Ben on 23 and Kasey leading on 27. Ben Green goes almost immediately this is posted, caught behind by Baird (ex Somerset Academy) off Cutmore. 254 for 6 sees Craig Overton stride out.
At Tea, the score has moved on to 273 for 6 with Craig adding a quick 18 from 15 balls to Kasey's more measured 28 from 65.
And Somerset have declared leaving the last session of Day 1 to have a go at the student batting line-up
3 balls into the innings and Josh Davey has his first wicket of this season as Routledge flashes at one going away and Kasey takes an easy catch at third slip. Exeter are 1 down without scoring. Jake Ball starts his season from the River and the students reset under Connell and Church and at the end of the 1th have moced the score on to 37 with Connell on 2 and Church on 16. We have moved on from the opening partnership and both COve from the River and Leonard from the pavilion have had a go. Halfway through the 11th opver Ned has Church flashing to his bowling partner Overton at 37 for 2. Ned has a pair of shoulders on him this year and looks promising. He goes on to end his second over with figures of 2 overs 1 maiden 4 for 2 as he sends Connell back caught behind for 20 bringing Mumford to join Baird at 4 for 3.with both new bats on zero.
Exeter pass the half century in the 15th over and have moved on to 60 by the start of the 17th with both bats on 9.
Somerset introduce Shoaib Bashir into the attack for the 22nd over he goes for a single and then claims Baird in the 24th when the young man has a bit of a loss of concentration and skies one into the hands of Kasey Aldridge runnning backward towards the Somerset stand boundary. 83 for 4 and the keeper goes for 12. Out comes another ex Somerset Academy player in the form of Charlie Sharland.
The number of overs in the day has been achieved but the sides are playing on until the 6pm cutoff with Lewis Goldsworthy and Mr Bashir taking up the duties at either end. With Mumford on 31 and Sharland finishing on 5 the day ends with the University on 95 for 4 - a full day and who would have predicted that in the middle of the week. Good workout for both sides.
Day 2
Craig Overton nearly starts the 2nd day with a hatrick as he traps 2 Exeter Uni bats in his first over. From 95 for 4 to just over 100 for 6 in 4 balls! After that the students become a little more cautious and the game slows to a crawl as Sharland and Whitmore settle into a defensive posture. Just after 12 noon the score has moved on to 140 for 6 with lots of appeals but little other action as we move towards lunch with rain predicted at 1pm.
At 12:27 the rain comes and the umpires call for an early lunch. The rain came quite forcefully for a while but it is now 2:35 and we are still not playing. We are then told play will start at 2:45 and they will try to get a 2 hour session in before Tea. We don't as the weather closes in after about an hour and a half but there is enough time to dismiss the University for 194.
In the third spell, Dickson gets things moving before he retires in order to let others get a spell in the middle. Unfortunately this does not help Lewis Junior who does not stay long or the included Tom Banton who flashes early and goes for a single. James Rew is not there long either and it isn't until Ben Green arrives that Lammonby any real partner. He pushes him hard and the two move the scoreon to 156 for 5 by the end of the second day.
Day 3
Ben Green and Tom Lammonby continue on the last morning and Ben makes his claim for Championship cricket as he passes 50 confidently on the way to a 100 partnership from 94 balls (at 206 for 5 ) where he has been the dominant one of the pair. The plan will probably be to bat until lunch and then decide with a lead that should be in excess of 300.
Strange shenanigans as Lammonby then retires at 97 (223) and Tom Banton returns to the crease. He makes 7 before departing to pretty loose shot and Ned Leonard walks out with Ben on 88. Before they face another ball Somerset declare on 242 leaving the Uni needing well over 300 to win this. They'd obviously had some kind of time target this morning that wasn't negotiable.
Half an hour at them before lunch and Routledge finishes a game to forget with 4 before being caught in the slips by Tom Lammonby off the bowling of Lewis Gregory (good to see him finally turning his arm over pre season) at 4 for 1.
The students reach 8 by lunch some 314 behind and rain predicted for about 3pm.
After lunch Church only last a short while before he is LBW to Ned Leonard for 5 at 12 for 2. But Connell and Mumford dig in and see their side past 50 courtesy of a Connell boundary off Jake. Ned gets a bit of tap and so we turn to Bashir to calm it down a bit.
Unfortunately he doesn't really. Kasey is introduced and gets Connell to go for one and he falls to an excellent catch from Leonard. However, the ex-Academy man Charlie Sharland comes in determined to make a game and with Charlie Mumford they ask loads of questions of the bowlers pushing the score past 100. This results in the introduction of Tom Lammonby before Bashir bowls Mumford for 32 at 106 in comes the other Dickson in this game.
Tea is taken at 3pm with the weather closing in and the light deteriorating and 127 on the board for 4. Unfortunately neither really improves andthe game peters out into a draw with no more play.
A good test for the county with the students givingsolid and flexible opposition allowing the selectors to get a look at everyone they wanted to. The plusses would be Lammonby, Dickson, Green and Gregory looking good with the bat and Overton, Davey, Ball, Aldridge, Leonard, Bashir and finally in the secoond innings Gregory getting a feel of the ball. It would be generous to say that all the bowlers looked in tip top shape. Shoaib got a feel for English conditions again with some limited success. Ned Leonard looked stronger and was more of a handful than any of the others which was pleasing - though also a little worying with the first Championship game in 3 days time.
The loss of Abell was unfortunate and it is highly doubtful that he will make Canterbury, along with Leach and Umeed who are still not fit. With the loss of Sutherlan and the absence of TKC we have less of a selection conundrum though that may not be a good thing. Andy Umeed represented the county at the Opening Ceremony of the domestic season - arranged to happen on a day when more than one county were playing University games scheduled months ago. The ECB seemed disappointed that some county captains weren't there - wonder why they were absent!!
The last piece of the red ball jigsaw will be announced 'very very soon' it seems according to a county source on Tuesday afternoon. Bet he'll be a bowler. Not sure he'll be under 35. BUT I have been assured it willnot be Neil Wagner!!
Digg
Delicious
Facebook
Reddit
Stumbleupon31/03/2024 11:26
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:04:03:06:24:52 by Grockle.
[somersetcountycc.co.uk]
The squad is;
1. Lammonby
2. Dickson
3. Abell
4. Rew
5. Goldsworthy
6. Gregory
7. Green
8. Overton
9. Aldridge
10. Davey
11. Ball
12. Leonard
13. Shoaib Bashir
Renshaw is in some time around now but won't be ready for this one.
Sutherland is not coming so there is a place available
TKC is in India
COve may not be fit... that will be interesting. This may be his match fitness test.
No Tom Banton in the squad. Personally sad about that and hope it doesn't mean anything significant
Andy Umeed seems to not be ready yet shame because he may have to fight to re assert his claim for a place
Same conclusion for Jack Leach one would suggest
Good to see Shoaib is up for some... may need to re-acclimatise
Ned Leonard is getting a statement of faith and needs to go for it, especially if Craig comes out of this not ready yet
Head to head between Ben Green and Kasey Aldridge probably for that other bowling all rounder place
Though in all this, the weather and the opposition may not give us many answers. So pray for a good 3 days in more ways than one.
And don't forget!! The clocks have changed
Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 2024:03:31:07:05:29 by Grockle.
We are batting first
Thererfore no idea is there are fitness issues because the bowlers will bowl or won't and the bats may be anyone in any order. The Exeter guys have 15 to choose from so... good luck.
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:03:31:15:13:59 by Grockle.
That’s brisk by the standards of the modern game! To be more precise? I think it’s roughly the over rate they would need to hit to get the overs of a day’s test in by 6pm.. and we all know how often that happens.
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:03:31:16:20:09 by Grockle.
Quote:Grockle
Yep Tom pulled up at the end of the first of 2 runs - he strolled the second and will most likely not bat again in this game. It's a 13 man squad so there is no reason to push it. Hopefully it is just a niggle and can be sorted for next Friday.
Worryingly Jason Kerr said this after play “he is a little bit sore at the minute so we need to get a scan". Doesn’t sound good. Let’s hope the scan brings back positive outcome.
Is Gregory not fit to bowl?
How has Ned looked? Hope he doesn’t end up stuck behind Ball just because we’ll have spent a bit of money on JB.
Ned has looked decent, probably the most dangerous bowler though Kasey and Ben got the last 2 to take them out for 194
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:04:01:15:33:32 by Grockle.
Quote:Grockle
No rain for at least an hour but we still have to wait until 2:45 before we get play. Then 2 hours to Tea and 2 hours afterwards.
Ned has looked decent, probably the most dangerous bowler though Kasey and Ben got the last 2 to take them out for 194
Also the scorecard may have died on the official site as the software that hosts it couldn't cope with Banton batting twice. They may link in the NV card but that will be via a live blog link if at all.
During the seaso they're falling over each other in their box.
Quote:dilly
So why don't you give the score on here?
It's on the frontpage dilly, well when anything significant happens... I don't score the games. I pop comments on when anything happens.
If I post too often some miserable posters come on and complain about me posting all the time.... you know who.you are. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
There is commentary this afternoon
These games were nearly always voluntary games going way back. My Uffculme kids provided the commentary for one friendly game and that was as far back as 2010.
Didn't the same people moan when we did that? So long ago now
One good bit of news is that Anthony will be back in the media area next season so the 2 competing teams will be side by side as they are moving Polly and the scoring team to the Botham.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:04:02:15:07:40 by Grockle.
The light probably won't hold and can't see them getting the other 214
Sharland (ex Academy) 22 Mumford (without sons) 32 giving Bashir & Lammonby a bit of a fight.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:04:02:14:59:06 by Grockle.
More Somerset headlines
- Metro50 Game1 - Welcome to the next stage - Notts at Welbeck
- Blast Finals Day Semi 1 - It's Northants Again!!
- Blast Quarter Final Here We Go at Headingley
- Blast Game 12 - Simple Beat the Pears!!
- Women's Blast Game 12 - Fanx Tara Towie
- Blast Game 11 - Northants Part 2 - Gregory Back?
- Women's Blast Game 11 - Blazing Away\!!
- Blast Game 10 - Derby to the Wire as well
- Women's Blast Game 10 - Down to the Wire v Essex
Somerset latest threads
- Metro50Game 3 - Sunday v Warks
- Poll: 2026 Best Blast Player
- Poll: Best CC1 Player Part 1
- Metrobank 50 Game2 - Home Derby
- Members online forum - the future of SCCC
- Metro50 Game1 - Welcome to the next stage - Notts at Welbeck
- Blast Finals Day Semi 1 - It's Northants Again!!
- RIP the GREAT Gary Sobers
- Metro50 NOT "Developmental" by choice
- Blast Quarter Final Here We Go at Headingley