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Second XI Championship: Somerset v Hampshire – Day Four
DAY FOUR
Somerset faced Hampshire in the Second XI County Championship at Taunton Vale Sports Club this week.
Hampshire won by 259 runs.
Somerset began the final day on 63 for three requiring a further 453 runs to secure victory.
Theo Lamey fell to the fifth ball of the morning with no addition to the overnight score but George and Josh Thomas shared an unbroken stand of 149 to see the hosts reach lunch with the scoreboard showing 212 for four.
George brought up his 50 from 70 balls, Josh reached his half century from 45 deliveries and the 100-partnership arrived from 104 balls.
The partnership between the Thomas Brothers was eventually worth 158 but was broken when George was dismissed for 69 at 221 for five.
Kian Roberts was run out for eight and when Josh Thomas was removed for 84 Somerset were 234 for seven.
The tail could only add a further 22 as the home side were dismissed for 256 to give Hampshire the win by 259 runs.
DAY THREE
Somerset resumed on 306 for eight, trailing by 167, and were eventually all out for 317.
By lunch, Hampshire had reached 98 for one in their second innings. Joe Weatherley was the batter to fall, caught by Oscar Coleman off the bowling of Kian Roberts for 21.
After the interval, the score had moved to 169 when Joseph Eckland was trapped lbw by Lachlan Rice for 50.
Sam Ashman (13) and Ali Orr added 45 for the third wicket before the former fell to Josh Thomas, and when Orr finally fell for an excellent 136, the visitors were 247 for four.
At tea Hampshire had progressed to 281 without further loss, leading by 437.
40-plus partnerships between Dominic Kelly and Finn Gordon, and Kelly and Andrew MacEwen saw the away side reach 359 for six when the declaration came.
Somerset lost Ben Church for four to the last ball of the second over with the score on eight but Bertie Michael and Fin Hill took Somerset past the 50-mark in the 14th over.
Hill fell for 24 at 61 for two, and by the close of play Somerset had reached 63 for three, Michael eventually departing for 33.
Somerset will begin the final day requiring 453 for victory
DAY TWO
Hampshire resumed on 448 for eight on the second day.
The visitors were eventually dismissed for 473 with Alfie Ogborne trapping Edward Campion lbw for 17 whilst James Trodd was caught by Fin Hill off the bowling of Kian Roberts for 18. Roberts was the pick of the Somerset attack, claiming four for 87.
Somerset openers Bertie Michael and Ben Church then negotiated 19 overs to take the hosts to lunch at 77 without loss with Church reaching his half century from 57 balls.
The opening stand was eventually worth 117 before Michael fell for 51 (his 50 coming from 78 balls).
Hill made 26 before being stumped by Eckland off the bowling of Gordon and the same combination then accounted for Church who had reached an excellent 90 at 179 for three.
Will Smeed fell for seven and by tea Somerset were 200 for four.
After the break, the score had advanced to 212 when Josh Thomas was bowled by Campion for 14. George Thomas and Roberts then shared a sixth wicket stand of 81 until Thomas was dismissed for 72 with the scoreboard showing 293.
Two further wickets fell during the evening, including that of Roberts (36) as Somerset finished the day on 306 for eight, trailing by 167.
DAY ONE
Somerset won the toss and elected to bowl.
The home side made an early breakthrough when Ali Orr (9) was caught by Ben Church off the bowling of Alfie Ogborne in the third over with the score on 10.
That was as good as it got for Somerset in the morning session, as the visitors reached lunch at 134 for one.
Joe Weatherley and Joseph Eckland went on to share a second wicket stand of 221 to take Hampshire to 231 before the latter fell to the Church/Ogborne combination for 112 from 155 deliveries.
By tea, the visitors had reached 269 for two, with Weatherley unbeaten on 122.
Somerset battled back after the interval and claimed six further wickets.
Weatherley finally fell for 146 to Ben Sleeman, Chaurch once again taking the catch at 322 for three. Sam Ashman (71) and Dominic Kelly added 72 for the fourth wicket but Church was once again the recipient as Kian Roberts removed Ashman with the score on 394.
Four wickets then fell for the addition of just 36 runs. Kelly (53) was caught by Fin Hill to give Roberts a second scalp, Roberts then bowled Finn Gordon (6), Andrew MacEwen became Church’s fifth catch to give Zach Vukusic a wicket, and Kamran Dhariwal was bowled by George Thomas.
Hampshire dug in though and by the close of play the visitors had reached 448 for eight.
Second XI Coach, Greg Kennis has named the following squad for the game: Ben Church, Bertie Michael, Fin Hill, George Thomas, Will Smeed, Josh Thomas, Kian Roberts, Oscar Coleman, Lachlan Rice, Alfie Ogborne, Zach Vukusic and Ben Sleeman.
Entry to Taunton Vale Sports Club is free but spectators are reminded that there is a charge for parking at the venue.
