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My First Somerset Five-For: Vic Marks
Some of the finest players ever to have graced the game have taken to the field for Somerset County Cricket Club over the years.
These players have created some of the most memorable moments in the history of our great Club.
Over the next few weeks we will be taking a closer look at some of Somerset’s most famous bowlers, with special focus falling on their first five-wicket haul for the Club.
Vic Marks made his Somerset debut in 1975 and went on to feature in more than 500 matches for the Club.
His 275 First Class matches for the County yielded 738 wickets with a best of eight for 17, whilst he claimed 226 victims in List A cricket.
A more than capable batter, he scored more than 13,000 runs for the Club with a high score of 134.
His exploits for Somerset brought him to the attention of the England selectors and he represented his country in six Test matches and 34 ODIs claiming 55 wickets and scoring more than 500 runs.
However, we travel back to September 1976 for his first five-wicket haul.
Leicestershire were the visitors to Taunton for the three-day County Championship fixture.
Batting first, Somerset slipped to 24 for two. However, Brian Rose scored a magnificent 177 and was ably assisted by Ian Botham (88) and Brian Close (69*) as the hosts posted a first innings total of 408 for seven from their 100 overs.
Leicestershire’s Chris Balderstone reached 100 before being run out as the visitors finished on 332 for eight from their 100 overs.
Batting for a second time. Vic top scored with 57 as Somerset declared on 186 for seven.
The visitors lost their first three second innings wickets for 124 runs but collapsed to 173 all out as Vic bamboozled them to finish with figures of five for 62. Dennis Breakwell also claimed five wickets as Somerset won the match by 89 runs.
It was the first of Vic’s 37 five-wicket hauls for the Club.
