Somerset Stopped

Taunton is almost always a pitch that favours the batsmen, and this contest proved to be no exception. Not surprisingly, Andrew Gale elected to bat, after winning the toss. His team amassed a good score, but just when Steven Patterson was brilliantly bowling them towards a first-innings lead, along comes the Overtons to overturn [excuse the pun] the situation and launch a blistering last-wicket counter-attack, which culminated in a remarkable eighteen-ball half century for the number eleven batsman, Jamie Overton.

The momentum had now firmly swung towards the hosts, and while the ever-improving Leaning added a second fine score in the match, his top order colleagues soon collapsed to a hazardous 117 for five, leaving Somerset on the brink of a possible victory. In the event, a Bairstow and Rashid rescue operation of 117 runs ensemble retrieved the situation for the Tykes, and then the rest of the lower order were afforded batting practice, as Galey refused to entertain the possibility of a tempting declaration on the final afternoon. He may have been unnerved by the fireworks display from the Overtons and recognised that boundaries are easy to come by at Taunton. Furthermore, it is good that he refuses to hand away cheap points to the opposition, by encouraging them to chase an achievable target. However, on the other hand, surely Yorkshire should have had at least a twenty-overs dash at the hosts, having gone more than three hundred runs in front? In such circumstances they could have crowded the bat and maybe incurred some panic in the home troops. In the event, Somerset were merely required to bat two overs, and even then they lost one wicket to the otherwise misfiring Maxwell.

So an honourable draw was shared between the two combatants. It was a fair result, but Yorkshire need to be mindful of the fact that being unbeaten all the time may be a source for pride, but championships are won and retained by counties that win matches. The early season blistering start by Durham [and Middlesex] is a warning that draws won't suffice all the time. The champions need to return to winning ways sooner rather than later, or they will have quite a chase on their hands.  

Somerset versus YORKSHIRE; at Taunton; Sunday the 24th to Wednesday the 27th of May 2015. YORSHIRE won the toss.

YORKSHIRE first innings: 438 (Leaning 123, Bresnan 100*, Bairstow 50; Trego 4-73, C.Overton 3-74)

Somerset first innings: 485 (Cooper 99, Hildreth 82, Abell 62, Trescothick 56, J.Overton 50; Patterson 5-70, Rashid 3-121)

YORKSHIRE second innings: 419 (Rashid 99, Bairstow 66, Leaning 52; Myburgh 3-57, C.Overton 3-73)

Somerset second innings: 6 for one

Match drawn. Somerset 12 points, YORKSHIRE 13 points.

Lees - Contributions of 34 and then one were way below par, which is a shame, considering captain Cook is still crying out for an opening partner for England.

Rhodes - Yet again scores of 28 and forty demonstrated his ability to see off the new ball but then frustratingly fail to build upon his fine starts.

Leaning - Jack is firmly putting himself in the frame for an England Lions call-up with his second century of the summer, which was then followed by a fifty-two.

Gale - Andrew disappointingly made little impact, delivering scores of twenty-two and twelve. This was wholly inadequate on such a good batting track.

Bairstow - Jonny is in fine fettle at present, as he collected two half centuries. His consistency is crucial in the absence of Ballance, Lyth, and Root.

Maxwell - GM had an awful debut, as he succumbed to a second-ball duck, bowled two overs for seventeen runs, and then fell for only two in the second innings. 

Rashid - Nine runs and an expensive first-innings bowling effort can be overlooked after Adil made amends with an important knock which fell narrowly short of 100.

Bresnan - Tim struck a welcome ton to underpin our first-innings efforts. However, he failed to hit such heights with ball in hand, conceding 69 from eleven overs.

Plunkett - This was not a glittering display from Liam. He was out first ball in the first innings, made 21 in the second innings, and his 23 overs cost 101 runs.

Patterson - Arguably Yorkshire's best performer, Steven hit forty-two and then forty-four not out, batting at number ten. His 23 overs also included ten maidens.

Brooks - His nineteen overs cost 88 runs, yielding no wickets, and he was one of three duck eggs in the first innings. Jack did at least score 24 second time around.

CURRENT LEAGUE TABLE:

Durham 90 points from six matches [four wins]

Middlesex 84 points from five matches [three wins]

Yorkshire 78 points from five matches [two wins]

Sussex 72 points from five matches [three wins]

Warwickshire 69 points from five matches [two wins]

Somerset 52 points from five matches [one win]

Worcestershire 45 points from five matches [one win]

Nottinghamshire 40 points from five matches

Hampshire 39 points from five matches