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Second XI Championship: Defeat for Somerset
Somerset take on Northamptonshire at Taunton Vale Sports Club in the Second XI County Championship this week.
DAY FOUR
MATCH CENTRE
Northamptonshire resumed on 182 for one on the final day of this game requiring a further 250 runs for victory.
Aum Raykar and Aadi Sharma took the score to 268 as the pair shared a third wicket stand of 240 before the former was bowled by Sonny Baker for 111. Sharma went on to make 166 before being stumped by Ben Church off the bowling of George Thomas.
By the time the lunch interval arrived, the visitors were 352 for three, requiring a further 80 runs for victory.
The Somerset bowlers battled back valiantly after the interval and claimed three further wickets, but Northants held on to reach their required target to win by four wickets.
DAY THREE
Somerset resumed on 62 for two, a lead of 176 runs.
George Thomas and Fin Hill shared a third wicket stand of 124 before the former was stumped for 64 with the score on 177.
By the time that lunch arrived, Somerset were 197 for three with Hill unbeaten on 74 and Josh Thomas not out on 10.
Seven wickets fell in the afternoon session, but not before Hill reached his century from 142 balls. He eventually fell for a fine 123 as Somerset were all out for 317 at tea, setting Northants a victory target of 432.
The visiting batters had the better of the final session, finishing the day on 182 for one.
Northamptonshire require a further 250 runs for victory on what promises to be a dramatic final day.
DAY TWO
Somerset resumed on 389 for eight but were eventually dismissed for 431, with Alfie Ogborne unbeaten on 39.
Ogborne then claimed two early wickets as Northamptonshire fell to 26 for two in the fifth over. However, Saif Zaib and George Bartlett staged a mini recovery to ensure that the visitors reached lunch with the scoreboard showing 64 for two.
The Northants pair took the score to 96 before Ogborne claimed a third, Josh Thomas taking the catch to remove Zaib for 29.
Bartlett reached his century from 97 balls before going to 150 from 132 balls as the visitors took the total to 276 for three at tea.
The former Somerset batter was eventually dismissed for 152 when he fell to Joe Heywood. The young bowler then found himself on a hat trick when he trapped Charles Oldershaw lbw with the very next delivery at 277 for five. However, Rishabh Upadhyay survived the hat trick ball.
Northants then lost their remaining five wickets for just 40 runs as they were dismissed for 317. Ogborne was the pick of the bowlers, claiming five for 63 from 17 overs.
By the close of play Somerset had reached 62 for two, a lead of 176.
DAY ONE
Northamptonshire won the toss and elected to bowl.
Sean Dickson and Ben Church shared an opening stand of 60 as the home side built a solid foundation before the latter fell for 31 in the off the final ball of the 16th over.
George Thomas was the next batter and he added 17 to help take the score to 97 before he was bowled by Johann Louw.
Dickson went to 50 from 90 balls and by lunchtime Somerset were 106 for two.
After the break, Dickson moved to 70 before being bowled by Saif Zaib at 135 for three. Zaib then removed Fin Hill for 26 to leave Somerset on 150 for four.
The score had advanced to 188 when Seb Linnitt was out for 11, but Josh Thomas and Oscar Coleman took the hosts to 200 in the 58th over. By tea, Somerset had reached 232 for five.
After play resumed, Coleman reached 50 from 61 balls, but with the score on 294, he was bowled by Zaib for the addition of just two further runs to his total. His partnership with Josh Thomas was worth 106.
Thomas made 102, his 100 coming from 144 balls, but he was dismissed at 359 for seven.
Zaib claimed his fourth wicket when he bowled Ned Leonard for 36 as Somerset closed the day on 389 for eight.
Somerset have named the following squad for the game: Sean Dickson, Ben Church, George Thomas, Fin Hill, Josh Thomas, Seb Linnitt, Oscar Coleman, Ned Leonard, Alfie Ogborne, Sonny Baker, Blaise Baker and Joe Heywood.
Supporters are reminded that there is a charge for parking at Taunton Vale Sports Club.
