Somerset
CC1 Sussex by the Tone
By Grockles
May 16 2025
Back after a ten day lay off, Somerset welcome Sussex to Taunton on a glorious Friday morning. Our "internationals" are available for this one so we need to push for a win here. The opening issue is still there but there is no Andy Umeed in this one and there are rumours that the 'allrounder' that is Josh Davey may be opening with Archie Vaughan. Sussex have won the toss and will bat..
CC1 v Sussex @ Taunton Friday 16 May 2025
After a bye in the last round, Somerset look to build on the good win versus Essex. Sussex are the opposition who already have a win against us at Hove. The Test side call ups have not yet taken James Rew so we have a full squad to choose from it seems, including finally Matt Henry. We need a home win before the CC1 Phase 1 ends.
The side is;
Vaughan, Lammonby, Abell, Banton, Rew, Gregory, Overton, Henry, Davey, Pretorius, Leach
No Andy Umeed in this side and with Sussex winning the toss and putting us in we see Josh Davey and Lewis Gregory opening!! It seems that Lewis is playing this game as a bat only and will not be bowling.
McAndrew opens from the Pavilion with Robinson opening from the River. Josh open with a more than competent clip through the covers for four.
After 5 overs we have reached 13 for 0 with Gregory on 7 and Davey not adding to his boundary in front of a very decent crowd for a Friday Day 1. Lovely weather though getting into Taunton from West Somerset is an absolute nightmare as Taunton Council seem to be obsessed with closing Bishop's Hull AND Staplegrove arterial roads!! Enjoy if you live that side up until June the 9th it seems!!
Meanwhile the game moves on with Lewis fishing for one from Robinson and giving second slip a bit of catching practice. Somerset are 21 for 1 and the skipper returns (up the stairs now) to the dressing room for 15 caught Clark bowled Robinson. Archie does not come in at 3 either so is the 'Vaughan' experiment over for the time being? The next man in is our usual number 3 Tom Lammonby
After an hour the 'experiment' is at the point of starting to be assessed. 17 overs in and we are one down still - not a situation we are all that used to. Josh has moved on to 8 from the 48 balls he has faced and Somerset are at 48 for 1. The movement of Archie down the order may be to allow him to work on his confidence but the questions still exist as to what the future of Andy Umeed in this side is and why Lewis Goldsworthy decided to stay in Taunton and he seems to not be in any present equation of first team cricket. Was he offered a move to Leicester? If he was, why did he decide not to go?
One thing this pair have done is forced Sussex to bring spin into the game as Carson comeson at the MT to partner Clark from the River and Somerset move to 50 with Lammonby on 13 and Davey moving on to 12.
A 50 partnership arrives at 72 for 1 after 109 balls in 74 minutes with Lammonby on 25 from 55 and Davey on 23 from 69. Sussex have re-introduced Robinson to keep the Somerset men honest. He makes the breakthrough at 79 for 2 just before lunch when he has Davey caught behind by Simpson for 28 from 77 balls. Josh was not happy - he doesn't think he hit that but he has done a job for his county this morning. In comes James Rew at number 4... all movement in the Somerset line-up it seems.
At lunch after 30 overs we are 99 for 2 with Tom Lammonby on 31 (70 balls) and James Rew with 13 (from 13). A decent morning without silly loss of wickets at least. We've had worse mornings!! There was a claim for a stumping that many are suprised wasn't given but other than that it's a fair morning's work with much, much more to do after the lunch interval.
After the lunchtime debates about whether the moving of James Rew up the order was due to 'orders from the ECB' or not we resume and the Somerset pair take the score into 3 figurtes almost immediately McAndrew from the River and Prentice(H?) from the pavilion open the afternoon attack.
It's all going well until Carson tempts Rew to drive at one going away and he gets a leading edge to Haines at first slip and dies 4 short of a deserved 50. He goes for a 47 ball 46 and Somerset are 149 for 3 as Tom Abell comes out to join Tom Lammonby. They bring up the 150 in the 43rd. Tom A still doesn't look all that comfortable while facing so he is still working through some things, one can only hope he gets some time at the crease to work the 'kinks' out this afternoon perhaps.
The Sussex attack make it hard for the new pair to settle but they keep their minds on the job in hand and although Ollie Robinson takes over from McAndrew in the 47th the score keeps rachetting up and Tom Lammonby reaches a patient and well played 120 ball 50 at 163/3 in the 48th (5 fours) bowled by Carson. It's slow in the afternoon sunshine but it is moving forwards. Tom Abell looks 'scratchy' but he is still there.
It is slow going though this afternoon and Tom Lammonby finally runs out of luck when he is caught behind off Carson for 60 at 176 for 4. Getting runs this afternon has been hard work and Tom Banton walks out still with a job to be done today as he joins Tom Abell who has stuttered to 10 from 36 balls faced. He's slowly working the kinks out and is helped by being dropped on 13 at the end of the 59th off the bowling of Coles. Any bit of luck for TA presently is good for us. 'Going' is slow but 'going' is still 'going'!! Both these players need time at the crease and the more time they have the more they will start to look like the bats we know they can be.
Then the luck goes against them as a flash by Tom Banton comes off one of the keeper's gloves to first slip and he is given out to a ball he missed by quite a lot. He does the shrugging 'what' but he is given out and has to go at 187 for 5 with 6 to his name. He trails his bat as he wanders back - probably not out but he will be fined probably. In comes Vaughan and although it's better than some games we still need to push along with this score moving it nearer to 300 than the present 200-ish we have. Archie drives his first ball for four.
Tea arrives at 193 for 5 with Tom Abell on 16 from 66 balls while Archie has 5 from 10. Still a job to do in the third session of the day.
We move past 200 as the evening session goes on. A number of really nice shots from the younger member of the partnership shift the score into the 220s while his older teammate keeps his mind on the job of taking the county to the end of play with a decent number of runs for a first day. Tom spins to whip one down the legside and although there is a decent appeal the umpire doesn't give it - one back for the poor one perhaps at 233 for 5?
At 242 a 50 partnership (the third of the innings) off 63 balls arrives with another Vaughan boundary. He moves to 30 from 42 while his partner has reached 32 from almost twice as many deliveries. Sussex now have spin from both ends with Carson at the MT pairing with Coles. It seems to be another of those Taunton wickets like the one against Essex which seem to offer something for the seamers while also giving something for the spinner, but mostly only from one end really. Though Carson, who has changed ends, is also getting something from the Pavilion end as we move towards the new ball in 7 overs. Jack will be very interested in that.
Somerset reach a batting point as a Vaughan glanced boundary to the MT moves the home side to 250. Clark brings seam back to the River end and continues to ask important questions of Archie which he (fingers crossed) keeps answering presently.
At 265 for 5 the new ball becomes available. Robinson comes back on at the pavilion for the 81st but there's no indication presently that he has taken it, new ball or not, Archie pulls that one for four to the CA and they take the new one immediately at 269 for 5. The new ball zips a bit from Robinson and has Tom Abell chasing one at 270 for 6 to go caught at second slip by Clark for a fighting 42 from 108 balls. He needed the time in the middle, probably did not have to go after that one and will see it as an opportunity lost but his time in the middle today has been invaluable in returning him to a player who looks more like the one we know. In comes Craig Overton. He survives a failry decent shout from Robinson in his first over which could have gone either way but he gets 2 runs as he finishes the 83rd over. McAndrew is back on at the River end with the new ball as well but Archie gets one away to the Somerset boundary to bring up his 50 from 79 balls with 9 fours. A good innings that again will have done the Somerset man a great deal of good. He has looked solid and composed all the way through to be honest.
With just over 6 overs left Somerset move to a second batting bonus point at 300 from the batof Craig Overton. As the game moves to the Day 1 close, ] the objective is to keep this pair in place for tomorrow morning as Hudson-Prentice and Carson try to make that not happen. Neither Archie or Craig look to make any aggressive moves though Vaughan does produce a delicate glance to the boundary to bring up a career best score of 69 in the 94th over of the day.
The last over of the day from Carson sees Craig using the knowledge he gained from the Essex game to blulnt any chance of a last gasp win before the close of play. He blocks out anything inline but still looks to score from looser ones and Somerset finish on 317 for 6 with Archie on 70 from 111 and the bowler on 22 from 49..
A fairly decent batting performance today which we can hopefully build on tomorrow and then 'Have at 'em'!!
DAY 2
Robinson opens proceedings from the MT while McAndrew takes the River berth. It takes a couple of overs before an Overton boundary gets the score moving, bringing up the 4th 50 stand of the innings from 95 balls. Unfortunately that's about it for. After playing and missing at most balls this morning he finally gets an edge to one very well caught by Simpson off McAndrew. He goes for 28 at 326 and that brings Miggy P to the crease. He doesn't stay long and only adds 1 as he is caught behind off Robinson after 4 balls. This finally brings Matt Henry to a 2025 Taunton crease. After making 4 from 12, the Kiwi is back in the hutch caught by Robinson off McAndrew (doesn't look like his batting has improved since the winter then) and Jack is out to support the somewhat marooned Archie at 333 for 9. After reaching 80 from 133 balls, Vaughan goes to the well one too many times and is caught by Robinson to finish the innings at 338. A bit of a "damp squib' collapse this morning as we capitulate while adding a mere 21 runs for the loss of our last 4 wickets.
We open with Henry from the MT with Davey partnering him from the River against Haines and Hughes with an hour before lunch to make our mark on this game. The opening pair keep it tight and after 3 from each end the score has moved to 21 with honours pretty much even. Haines is making the scoring moves for the opposition at the start of the innings, outscoring Hughes by a factor of 3. Nothing much is happening however and the first change comes in the eighth when Overton replaces Henry. We may even see Leach before lunch at this rate. Just when you want a breakthrough, Lammonby drops Hughes at third slip off the bowling of Davey - really should have been taken 37 for 0 with the Sussex man on 8. Hope we don't regret that!!
This seems to give Craig a bit if a kick and he gets Haines in the next over caught behind for 24 and the moans of missing out at 37 are bouted by the fall of the first wicket and the arrival of Clark at the crease. First blood before the lunch break. This prompts Matt to change ends for the 12th and he has Clark LBW for 4 at 45 after an earlier appeal in the over followed by a dot and a no ball.
No further excitement occurs before the lunch break but after a poor start to the day, Somerset go into the interval with Sussex at 68 for 2 with Hughes on 19 and Alsop on 8. An 'even Stevens' sort of a session.
One of the questions during the lunchtime interval was "When was the last time a Somerset player in a Championship game opened the batting AND the bowling" - answers on a postcard to the club or in the comments in the thread.
Josh Davey is once again asked to open the session but this time it is Migael Pretorius who comes running in at the other end to get the game moving again. It is Pretorius who breaks through early as he has Alsop caught by Overton in the 21st over for 13 at 75 for 3. This brings in Coles at 5 to face the South African weith a four slip cordon in the afternoon sunshine. in the 22nd the hard work of our batting allrounder pays off and he gets Coles feeling for one that goes away and Overton bags another one off the excellent bowling of Josh and it is 80 for 4 as the danger man Simpson comes out to face.
In the 28th Matt Henry is back in the game from the River replacing Davey and is immedaitely in a 'cat and mouse' contest with Simpson where one minute the Sussex man is driving him for four and the next the Somerset bowler is going through him like a warm knife through butter. Meanwhile it's presently Miggy showing them how to do it with 6 overs 1 for 8. But they take him off and being on Craig for the 30th and he completely fools Simpson with one that comes in and takes the top of off while the Sussex man watches it in disbelief!! He is out for 6 and Sussex are 97 for 5. Not long after that at 104, Hughes follows his team-mate and leaves an Overton inswinger to watch his off stump go backwards as well. 104 for 6 with COve looking considerably better at 3 for 20. Hughes departs for 38 and Hudson-Prentice replaces him.
We expected Jack Leach to be on well before lunch and he is now finally introduced for the 36th over of the innings from the River, he's not getting a lot from the early overs. In fgact it is the change at the other end that pushes through again as Pretorius takes over from Craig and then gets Hudson-Prentice to fish at one to the said Overton at 129. Craig doesn't miss much and Sussex are in a bit of trouble 7 down with Carson and McAndrew facing the job of salvaging this first innings still some 200 runs behind.
Jack finally gets one as McAndrews plays an awful shot which provides Tom Lammonby catching practice as cover as the ball spoons up. The bowler goes for 8 and Sussex are 140 for 8. In comes Robinson and dismisses Leach to the Botham with his first ball for 6. The questions start to become about 'enforcing the follow on'. The general feling up here is that they might... but they have to get the tail out first.
Jack helps with that endeavour, as Robinson flashes at one and sends it straight to Lewis Gregory at slip and he is on his way for 6 at 151 for 9. The last man in is Hayes and it is almost all over with the third ball as a snick is gloved by Rew past Gregory and almost into the hands of Overton falling forwards to try and clean up any missed chance. It goes to ground and the score moves on. But not for long as Hayes is totalled completely by Miggy P with the second ball of the 47th over. Sussex are 152 all out with an early Tea interval.
So with the visitors 186 behind and some 7 sessions left in the game it does look like a very possible 'follow on' situation. The bowlers get a rest now, the pitch is doing something but may very well do less in the next 2 days and while we have our tails up Sussex most definitely do not presently. Is there any reason NOT to enforce?
In fact the announcement has just been made that Somerset HAVE enforced the follow on.
At just gone 4pm on Day 2, Matt Henry starts our second attempt to bowl Sussex out on Saturday. Haines and Hughes are facing him for the second time today some 186 runs behind. Haines puts his first ball over the rope on the Somerset stand side of the ground to show his county will not go down without a fight and it is 'Game On' once again in the sunshine at Taunton with 37 overs left in the day's play. At the other end Josh Davey is back into the attack opening for the third time in 2 days.
After the first 6 overs "Part 2" it seems quite obvious that the Sussex openers are keen to put on a better show than this morning. They are being more forceful in their shots and have moved the score on to 27 without loss sharing the runs much more equally than the first time around.
With the 9th over, the bowling changes come. Craig Overton takes over at the MT wth the score on 40 without loss. They are swinging but they just keep on missing the ones that they ought to hit. The 50 (score and partnership) arrives in the 10th with Haines on 23 and Hughes on 21. The 50 arrived from 57 balls so they are looking to push it on. Archie gets a run out at the River end for the 12th of the day with 59 on the board and nothing presently going right for the seam attack after two failed run out attempts in the same over from Craig. "They never hit the stumps" is an often heard statement at the County Ground. Though to be fair, both were decent close efforts. After the Vaughan over the score has moved on to 65.
After some bandaging of Sussex elbows or something we continue and Overton is right through Haines - not for the first time one has to say but nothing is finding the bat's edge at the moment from either end and the score continues to rise as Sussex move to 70 without loss. At 82 with Haines on 43 a difficult but probably catchable chance is put down by Tom Lammonby off the bowling of Craig. It really is not going for the home side presently. The pitch seems entirely different to the one we were playing on not 90 minutes ago before the Tea interval and as Haines moves close to a personal 50 Sussex move to less than 100 behind without the loss of a wicket.
Jack Leach replaces Archie at the River for the 20th with 17 left after that in the day while Pretorius takes over at the MT to spell Overton. It is presently NOT going to plan at the end of Day 2 unfortunately. Haines moves to the half century from 70 balls at 95 and the game trundles on. The Park n Ride bus is calling me so we will follow the rest of the session on the way back and assess at about 6:30. Hopefully we will go into tomorrow with a wicket or two and reset for the morning.
By the time Bicknoller Towers comes into view the Jack Leach show has made an appearance. At 100 without loss he made the breakthrough by getting one past Hughes into the gloves of Rew which started a bit of a flow of wickets. Pretorius (to my mind the best of our bowlers on Day 2) got some success before the score moved on as the other opener Haines does not move past 50 before being adjudged 'in front'. 2 down with a few more overs to go the Sussex batting line-up goes into survival mode while the Somerset bowlers have a feeling there may be more before the end of the day. They re-introduce Matt Henry and he provides what he's paid for by sending their 'kind of nightwatchman' Carson (who had probably been sent in because he did well in the first innings) back up the stairs caught behind at 'Nelson' in the 28th. Tom Clark and Tom Alsop look to play out the last 8 or so overs of the day pushing the score along but taking no chances. In the 37th over there is a claim for a caught behind off Clark which was close but probably did not come off the bat but 2 balls later he looks to sweep Leach and gets a snick to James Rew to finish the days play at 127 for 4.
A very good day for the county on the pitch in terms of cricket. Maybe not so good in terms of team discipline as not only have there been questions of players from both sides seeming to question umpire's decisions (Banton and Davey most definitely for us) but also a weird sort of circling of Sussex's Clark at the end of the day by a triumphant Jack Leach probably also will be in the umpire's report - out of character and very strange to be honest but it had discipline points written all over it.
Anyway, we start Day 3 in the driving seat of this game most definitely. Sussex are still 58 runs adrift with 6 wickets in hand and 2 days of the game to go with no weather intervention expected at all. A good bowling morning and this could be done but the pitch has flattened considerably so early wickets might be the only possible 'easy' ones and it may become a wringer of a day with chances being few and far between.
Once more, the first hour may be crucial to a strong significant win.
Day 3
Hayes (0) and Alsop (8) stride out to face Matt Henry (who hopefully is getting his eye in now after a good solid day in the Taunton middle) from the River and Craig Overton for over 2 from the MT. We are 38 overs into this innings and we have 95 overs left after this one. First ball, second over and Alsop is on his way caught in the slips by Gregory. Craig Overton is up and running!! 129 for 5.
At the end of the over, Coles plays the ball into the midwicket gap and calls for the single. Hayes is slow starting but it's a sharp single. Banton attacks the ball from Mid on and takes out the middle stump with Hayes well short "we never hit when it matters!". Sussex are 129 for 6 as Hayes departs for 2 and Simpson comes on as Sussex's possible final hope of saving this game.
As the game settles down after the big start, Sussex pass the 150 mark to 155 for 6 and we see Migael coming on at the MT in the 49th. Coles has moved to 18 from 30 while Simpson has 7 from 29. Josh Davey also starts his day from the River in the 50th
Simpson and Coles are looking more solid as the morning develops. Coles is the main scorer with 30 from the 50 balls he has faced but Simpson is the man we should be worried about as he is their very solid servant and looks in very little trouble at the moment. It could be a very long day as we introduce Jack Leach from the River in the 53rd at 179 for 6.
While these two are together there it is pretty definite that we will have to bat again to put this one away. How long they stay together may determine how much of a demand that makes on our batting line-up. A Coles slap to the Somerset Stand means we will have to bat again to win this one as Sussex move to 188 for 6. However, at 195, another 'slap' off Jack is straight to Lammonby at mid off and Coles leaves for 39 to a daft shot in the cntext of the game. 195 for 7 brings in Hudson-Prentice and we have to hope Simpson just simply runs out of partners. A close Hudson-Prentice run out from a James Rew direct hit gets the pulses racing but he was definitely in. However, Somerset have hit the stumps twice in possible run out scenarios so things are looking up!!
The 200 arrives and is passed in the 60th and Craig Overton is back at the MT to partner his spinner. Hudson-Prentice has settled in and seems to be finding the boundary a little too often for comfort just before the lunch interval. There doesn't seem to be a lot in the surface presently for the seam attack and we probably may see a dual spin option sometime near the lunch break. They did give Archie a run out for a couple yesterday so he has been 'blooded' in this fixture already. Carson was getting something from both ends on Day 1 so there may be something there. Meanwhile, for now, Jack is operating solely fromthe River as we move to towards the last 15 minutes of this session.
As predicted, Archie is given a twirl from the Pavilion end just before the lunch break. It may be a long afternoon of work for the two Somerset spinners.
At lunch Sussed are 224 for 7 with Simpson on 31 from 85 and Hudson-Prentice on 21 from 34. The visitors are 38 ahead with 3 wickets remaining.
We have a ceremony at the break for the Mighty Roelof van der Merwe and his contributions to the side from 2011 to last season. He's a man who won us games we thought were lost and it has been a privilege to watch him over a decade and a half.
Josh changes ends to the MT to start the after lunch session while Jack continues from the River and in the 72nd over "Mr Reliability" Craig Overton drops an easy one in the slips from Hudson-Prentice which he really should have taken.
231 for 7 and we look for more variation as we introduce the left arm of Tom Lammonby into the attack. In his first Sussex move over 50 runs ahead as Simpson also passes the score of his partner and moves into the 40s. The new ball is due in about 3 overs as Sussex take their score up towards 250 but before that happens Craig returns in the 79th.
At 251 and a Sussex 7th wicket partnership of 56 with Simpson on 46 and Hudson-Prentice on 28 Somerset give the new ball to COve and hope returns to the Somerset faithful. Henry returns at the River to look for a breakthrough that may put this game to bed if it can be achieved. Simpson reaches 50 from 126 balls at 258 courtesy of a pulled boundary to the pavilon which makes 6 in the score. Ominous times in the game - this partnership is getting bothersome now
Craig is steaming in to try and make something happen. He nearly gets Hudson-Prentice looking to avoid a ball but snicking it through. Unfortunately he doesn't get contact though it was worth the shout. Nevertheless, the partnership continues to move as a six takes it to 78. The next ball however, Hudson-Prentice (41) is on the backfoot as his off pole goes flying and Henry breaks through at 273 for 8. Matt liked that one.
McAndrew comes in while Craig works Simpson over at the other end. Henry is also starting to move at pace from the other end and we have to think this is the last bit of this innings though we have been here before. Lewis looks to keep it variable and brings Miggy back to the MT though McAndrew shows he knows which end of the bat to use. The lead moves to 100 in the 90th though we have at least becalmed Simpson in the mid 50s for a while. Nevertheless, the boundaries keep on coming as the Sussex score creeps up towards the 300 mark. But at 291 Matt gets McAndrew to feather one to the keeper and prompts Ollie Robinson to come out as the Aussie walks back in with 16 to his name. Pretorius nearly claims Simpson as the bat tries to flick it down the legside but it comes off the pad buckle and not the bat as a number of Somerset players, including the bowler, thought.
Robinson cover drives a four to the Gimblett to bring up the Sussex 300 in the 91st and while Simpson is on strike this game has defintely still got some life in it. Henry's 92nd over starts with 2 consecutive short punches to the Somerset stand boundary. Craig returns to the MT for the 93rd but it all becomes a little easy so Jack is back at the River to keep these two honest and get them to go for a long one. Simpson is getting far too close to a hundred for comfort. They are really struggling to get rid of this partnership which has already generated 44 runs. Jack finally gets Robinson to snick one to Overton for 18 and we have cleared them out for 335 meaning we need 150 to win. Jack ended with 4 for 51 and it was harder than it really should have been. Matt Henry took 3 for 90. One can only hope that the lack of help from the pitch makes collecting the 150 we need easier than we normally make it. Meanwhile they take Tea before the pain starts!!
35 overs remain in the day so unless there is a nightmare second innings reply from the home side this game will stumble into tomorrow one would expect... but if all goes to plan... probably only just. The umpires lead out the Sussex side along with our openers Lewis Gregory and Josh Davey. Ollie Robinson starts from the MT and has Gregory caught off a no ball second ball. He then is straight through him the next ball but it's also a no ball. An 'interesting' first 6 balls finds Somerset at 4 for 0 with nothing off the bat.
At the River end McAndrew looks to go one better than his new ball partner against Josh. His first delivery rears up and is slapped by Davey into Alsop's chest in the slips at a speed that finds him 'chesting' it away as he falls backwards but not getting a hand on it. It was a definite chance but it's a single instead. Lewis finally gets off the mark with a guide to the car park boundary by the MT. Its always fun at the start of a Somerset innings here in Taunton!! After 2 Somerset have decreased the total required to 139. 11 without loss.
In the next over however, Robinson gets his line right and Josh doesn't. He is bowled neck and crop for 2 and we are 11 for 1. Out comes Tom Lammonby and before the end of the over he is falling across his stumps plumb in front and Robinson has 2 with Somerset at 11 for 2 and Tom on his way back without bothering the scorers. James Rew replaces him with a stabalising job to do as the jitters may have started in the Somerset dressing room about the task in front of them. Robinson has his tail up for definite and this game is far from won.
After the obligatory first 5 overs the contest has settled a little though not necessarily in the home side's favour. The Somerset pair have moved the score on to 23 for 3 with the skiper on 10 from 17 and the keeper on 6 from 7. another 127 needed for victory and one of two results most decidedly possible (the draw is probably not in play!!).
Just when they have 'settled' McAndrew gets a wickets from nothing as Rew swats at a wide one and places the ball firmly in the hands of Robinson to depart for 6. That really really was not necessaryand has put the game back in the hands of the visitors as Tom Abell comes out to join his captain. Silly silly wicket I'm afraid. Somerset are 30 for 3
With 10 overs down Lewis has made some progress after that second over and has 29 from 39. Tom Abell is still not off the mark after facing 7 but Somerset have moved on to 42 for 3 though Robinson is still demanding answers on a regular over by over basis. One does wonder why he is not more in the eye of England because he is a quality bowler.
Sussex continue with Robinson through the 13th in the hope they can keep breaking through. It might have been an over too far as we move to 48 with Lewis on to 35 while Tom A is still not off the mark after facing 15 balls. They also contine with McAndrew from the other end. But it seems it wasn't an over too far for Ollie who returns for the 15th as well. The boqwlng finally changes at the River as Hudson-Prentice replaces the Australian.
The Somerset 50 arrives from his first ball and the runs required moves below 3 figures when Abell finally gets off the mark with a cut boundary to the Ondaatje from the 25th ball he has faced. With 19 overs left in the day Somerset require 94 more runs to win. Robinson is finally replaced at the MT and spin is introduced as Carson comes on to change the dynamic a little.
It looks like they think spin may be the answer at both ends as Coles takes over at the River as well. It might be the hope that the slow men can hold the line even if they don't get wickets and allow the Sussex seam attack to have a second go tomorrow morning in early day conditions? It's a theory. One has to hope that Somerset don't allow them the luxury of seeing how it would work by looking to get the bulk of the work done tonight.
We pass the halfway mark wth 76 as the 20th over comes to an end and we are left with 15 to close the day out. Tom has moved on to 14 from 40 balls while Lewis needs 3 runs for a 50 that certainly did not look probable about 8 balls into this innings.
Lewis does indeed complete his 50 from 73 balls (with 6 fours) at 81 for 3. The 50 partnership also arrives from 94 with Tom supporting but not panicking. Just what you need when an innings has got off to a rocky start. We now need level heads to see this one home with as little worry as possible as the one thing we have in this game in spades is time. With 10 overs to go Somerset have moved to 94 for 3 with 55 to Gregory and 24 to Abell. The progress ends though before they break the psychological 100 barrier as Coles gets one to move away from Tom Abell's edge and he is caught at first slip for 27 from 62.
At 98 for 4 in comes Tom Banton with his side needing 52. A test in character for the young bat who has an average of just over 6 from his last 10 innings since his record breaking score in the first game. The 100 is passed with a glanced four from Lewis to the Hildreth boundary. The runs required is moving downwards as McAndrew changes ends to come in from the MT. His second ball is also dispatched to the Somerset Stand side of the ground for another four.
Coles remains on at the other end defending 42 and only goes for 1 and by the end of the next McAndrew over it has moved down to 38 wth 6 overs left in the day's play. Carson is still asking questions of both bats and they are struggling to give the answers Somerset would like this close to the end of the game. With 5 overs left the score is 113 for 4. 37 runs are required.
We are down to 3 overs left with 117 for 3 on the board. There will be an extra 8 over to see if this can be finished tonight. Carson returns at the MT. Lewis slogs sweeps him into the Ondaatje to move it to 28 needed. One wonders where Robinson is but it seems he was doubtful for this game in the first place so he may not be able to complete any more overs with any confidence. Tom Banton then reverse sweeps again to the Ondaatje and the score goes to 126 with 1 official over to go. At the start of the extension we need 20 from 8 overs. Lewis has 73 from 107 and Tom has 15 from 29. But Banton is driving and hits it straight to cover and is caught for 15 by Hughes. In comes Archie Vaughan.
In the next Carson over Lewis is up the wicket driving twice to the Gimblett. He does a third one slightly wider to the Somerset to take the total under 10. 143 for 5 sees Gregory on 86 while Archie is still to get off the mark. But he does get one and sticks it to the Odndaatje to leave 1 required.
Lewis needs one and it is fitting that he is facing after a solid and very important skiper's innings. He hasn't bowled in this game so whether he will open in the next is a question but he takes the single here to see his side home winning by 5 wickets. A really good match on an excellent wicket and 21 points to the old total.
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Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2025:05:22:12:27:59 by Grockle.
James Rew will be with the Test squad. Tom Banton will be waiting to join both white ball squads and Thomas Rew will probably be at school before his 'select' appearance next week.
With all the IPL comings & goings even TKC may be available. But can we build on the win against Essex as we welcome the Sharks to Riverside?
Will Andy Umeed open with Archie Vaughan?
Tom Lammonby has extended at Somerset annd he will stay at number 3. Tom Abell is still looking for some form at 4 but there were signs in the last game.
Will Tom Banton stay at 5 and keep or will he take numer 6 and open up a space for Lewis Goldsworthy at 5?
Lewis Gregory will be at 7 with hero allrounder Craig Overton at 8 and Migael Pretorius at 9
New boy Matt Henry will be in at 10 with Jack Leach at 11.
That would be my choice. I'm sure Kasey Aldridge is there or there abouts but although there have been 10 days without first team cricket, Josh Davey was struggling in the Essex game.
Bash will off with England and James Rew while Jake Ball and Alfie Ogborne are off on loan to Kent.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2025:05:15:13:17:54 by Grockle.
No preview so no squad yet to look at.
Jamie Smith will be the keeper and Rew replaced Jordan Cox as batting back-up.
Looks like the Durham away game will be decimated by the weather front off the Atlantic on Fri May 23rd.
The question is whether he is available for our games around the Zimbabwe fixture.
Vaughan, Umeed, L:ammonby, ABell, Banton, Rew, Gregory, Aldridge, Overton, Pretorius, Henry, Davey, Leach
Personally I think Kasey and Josh will miss out but I suppose it depends on the 'rota' system. Though 'rota'ing someone who has had a 10 day break seems a little 'cautious' to be honest.
Crack on tomorrow then
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2025:05:16:10:26:37 by Grockle.
The side is
Vaughan, Lammonby, Abell, Banton, Rew, Gregory, Overton, Henry, Pretorius, Davey, Leach
So no Andy Umeed which was not in my 'factors to take into account'
Sussex have won the toss and will bat first.
I will run a frontpage with events but again will close that thread and use this one for comments until the end of the game when we will merge the two.
Seems Josh Davey may open???????
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2025:05:16:12:08:38 by Grockle.
Ahhhhhh we're batting???
As the New Zealand band OMC said in the 1990s: How Bizarre!
Spoke to one of our players who said the top order aren’t scoring runs, Lewis has always fancied his batting, and it doesn’t lengthen the tail, so why not?
BBC do t seem to have noticed that we opened with our usual 7 and 10…
I've always had time for Josh as a bat... this is his 50th innings without a duck so he's no slouch. He tends to get himself out pushing it rather than foxed in defence and he certainly seems to be pretty unflappable. It may be that his injuries as a bowler may be creeping up for him and this is a way of looking at possibly extending his professional career perhaps? So why not?
Not so sure of Gregory, though we did debate this earlier in the season and suggested that if the bowling burden was going to be less it might be a consideration. With Henry arriving, the bowling burden might be less and Archie may need sometime in the middle to reset his confidence after quite a brutal start to his 2025 season.
Quite happy to see Josh opening and although Lewis accompanying him seemed a bit odd, I can see the logic. Jack Leach would have been another option.
No idea how our batting line up will evolve for the rest of the season. Wonder if anyone does, (including Messrs K & H) ?!
Grizzers
21 (v Worcs, batting second, H)
14 (v Sussex, batting second, A)
14 (v Hants, batting first, A)
98*(v Surrey, batting first, A)
0 (v Essex, batting second, H)
21 (v Sussex, batting first, H)
So, today's somewhat unexpected opening partnership has posted the equal second best opening stand of the season. And the best, 98 at the Oval, has an asterisk, because that opening stand was actually posted by three players as Dickson retired hurt with the total on 20/0 when Lammonby then joined Vaughan to add another 78 runs before the first wicket fell.
He saw the ball deviate and probably heard a noise. The problem is that the deviation seems to have been off Simpson's glove not the bat. Not the easiest of decisions but the umpire went on the deviation and Sussex didn't put him right - as few sides do nowadays (if they ever really did).
They're nearly all getting a start but sadly nobody's going on to better things, though 272 for 6 doesn't seem like a bad return. We'll see where it all ends up...
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Felt we did very well overall, particularly given our re-arranged batting line up.
Pleasing to see Tom Abell & especially Archie Vaughan getting back in the runs. Felt sorry for Tom Banton, who clearly was very miffed at that decision.
Hope we can push on tomorrow.
Grizzers
First time for me watching Somerset open the match with the night-watchman
Tom Lammonby ct John Simpson bld Jack Carson
Josh Davey – have we found an answer for Somerset's opening partnership!
James Rew good shot James
James Rew Yet another good shot by James
Craig Overton hits the ball hard when he intends too
Archie Vaughan 4 runs
At the end of the day, I think Somerset were in front.
Sounds like dogged batting, and even with a dodgy decision, I think Somerset will feel they got the better of the day, albeit by a very small margin.
Great to see Vaughan in the runs after his start to the season, and I hope that he can carry on tomorrow, along with Overton.
Fingers crossed.
Simpson could have called Banton back but......
317 for 4 would have a real success!
In respect of the decisions, it seems to me bizarre that for the top flight of English domestic cricket not to have any technology to help make better decisions. A lot of batsmen - sorry, batters - stand and stare at the umpire in disbelief even if they are clearly out; fielding teams appeal for anything that might vaguely be close to out - and, as we have seen in this match, are not likely to own up to a mistake. Most other sports - football, rugby, etc - have some help for the officials in their top flight competitions and, while the technology does not entirely get rid of mistakes, at least the most obvious errors are avoided. Too expensive, I imagine.
But that was most definitely not Somerset’s finest forty minutes. 21/4 and twelve runs short of another batting point.
Time for some very disciplined bowling please.
Grizzers
When was the last time (if ever) before Josh Davey today that the same player opened the batting and the bowling in the first innings of a first class match for Somerset (excluding those batting in a nightwatchman type role)?
Vic Marks couldn't remember anyone who has done this for Somerset, although he did think an ex Somerset player may have done so in Test cricket - Sunil Gavaskar.
Another Somerset player who could have done this unusual double is Sanath Jayasuriya in his native Sri Lanka, but I would think a fast bowler doing this is a very rare occurrence indeed.
"When was the last time that a Somerset player opened the batting and the bowling in a Championship game?" Names came forward Arul Suppiah? Bill Alley? Ian Botham? Not sure myself about the older ones... though Arul might have been a punt on a bunsen somewhere but has anyone any idea?
Definitely a Dan Kingdom sort of stat.
And as I post it I look above it and..........
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2025:05:17:13:38:18 by Grockle.
As for today, a disappointing and all-too-quick end to Somerset's innings, though it's good they left the collapse to the end of the innings, I suppose...
But with Sussex now 120/6 things are looking better. The follow-on looks unlikely, but fingers crossed for a sizeable first innings lead. Though having been to two days of the Worcs game, I am not counting any chickens. (Two clichés/figures of speech in two sentences; if I was subbing this I'd have got the metaphorical red pen out...!)
So 186 ahead, with an interval rest now, a pitch doing something for all bowlers, Somerset up for this and Sussex not so much on a pitch that will do less as this match goes on. So what do ya reckon people? I'd send em in again myself.
They have in fact enforced the follow on!!
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2025:05:17:15:31:25 by Grockle.
And yes, I'd probably enforce it, though it's something that's fallen out of fashion in the last few years.
And ooh, again, we'll find out very soon as Sussex are all out for 152.
We'll see - at least I've had my say and I think it's the right call. But sport can throw up a lot of surprises, as the game against Worcs demonstrated!
Thank you guys and gals
Superb effort!! Is it my imagination or do the gulls always get extra excited when Somerset take a wicket?
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Here's hoping.
By the way, Pete Trego opened both the bowling and the batting for Somerset in our final-ball victory over Auckland in the Champions League in 2011.
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Tom Clark lbw Matt Henry
Matt Henry ct Ollie Robinson bld Nathan McAnderson
John Simpson bld Craig Overton – although you can't see the stumps because of the other batsman, you can see one of the bails against the sight-screen.
James Coles ct Craig Overton bld Josh Davey
Daniel Hughes off Matt Henry – Matt made the batsman play and miss more than once.
Daniel Hughes missed by Tom Lammonby off Josh Davey – this should have caught by Tom L
Daniel Hughes bld Craig Overton – No shot played
Daniel Hughes 4 runs
Archie Vaughan ct Ollie Robinson bld Nathan McAnderson. - what a good score by Archie Vaughan
what a good day for Somerset, one or two missed chances, you can't have it all!
We ended up in an excellent position, despite not always being at our best. Matt looked rusty at times & two drops by Lammers, alongside another by Craig (albeit he superbly caught three others !), were rarities indeed.
It can't have been an easy decision to enforce the follow on, but having done so 100/0 definitely didn't fit the bill, so to end up with them four down was a huge bonus.
Some of the Sussex batting in their first innings left a lot to be desired, but overall we bowled superbly.
Grizzzers
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Any interesting questions or comments from the Member's Q&A?
Was there any info concerning Somerset's response to the ECB's queries about scheduling is anyone aware? Sir Michael Barber was supposed to be presenting something for members... just wondered if he did.
My personal understanding is that the club have expressed their concerns about the new list which seems to be favoured by the Test venues and the ECB but few others. This seems to be the response of most counties though they all seem to be waiting to see what 'caveats' will come with it before they actually reject it.
Unfortunately that response system has not exactly worked in the past because saying 'no' has been interpreted as saying 'YES' by the board in the past and they've just gone on with it witout referring back to the counties for any kind of OK.
But that's the world we live in now. Just hoped the county would actually let it's members know officially this time... for a change.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2025:05:18:10:57:41 by Grockle.
Not today it seems. Well played Tom Banton
Massive credit to Lewis for playing a real Captain's innings to get us over the line and to all of our bowlers. Credit also to the Sussex lower order who made us work very hard indeed.
We've certainly still got plenty of work to do, but two wins on the trot has to be good for the collective Somerset soul.
Grizzers
5th in the table this morning but Surrey will definitely overtake us today and Durham could well do the same; however, the improvement in the past two games has been very encouraging. If only we could have taken that last Worcestershire wicket, we'd be 2nd....
If the words "if only..." were forbidden, there would be no point in supporting our beloved county.
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
The two things, above all, I noted from the Sussex match, were the sheer determination in the Somerset batting, and the endless vim and fire in the Somerset bowling. The person who watched the match with me said at the end, "That match turned on the Banton dismissal." It was as if, from that point, the team had decided to win the match. Not to try to win the match. To win the match. There is a fundamental difference between the two.
Perhaps now, instead of trying to win the Championship each year, the Club should decide to win it; just as it appeared the team had decided to beat Sussex. Before Friday would be a good time to make that decision. Once such a decison is made it is surprising how quickly and sharply it focuses both minds and effort. That is the minds and effort of everyone in the club, not just the players.
Farmer
The job is NOT to push the score along next over.
It's staying in and scoring more runs than they did.
There's no requirement to get the score including a certain number of boundaries or at a rate that only allows so many dot balls an over.
You do not have to hit all the wide ones but you do have to keep out all the one's on the stumps.
They should all watch the 25 balls Tom Abell faced yesterday before he scored a run. It was what the job is about
They should also look at what Lewis Gregory did once he had a lifeline from the no ball
That's how you bat to win games. Those are the 'learnings' we need to take and absorb into our play.
However, motivation can only get us so far. To win that elusive championship we need not just to be punching above our weight. Better recruitment, player retention, coaching not to play daft shots...
[farmerwhite.co.uk]
Farmer
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