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5 for Kasey as Somerset end day one on top
Kasey Aldridge claimed five wickets on a compelling opening day of this Rothesay County Championship First Division match between Somerset and Worcestershire at the Cooper Associates County Ground.
Aldridge’s heroics had put Somerset on top, but it was Tom Banton and Tom Abell who ensured that their side remained in the ascendancy. Both batters passed 50 as the hosts finished the day with a first innings lead of 33.
Following Somerset’s relative success last season, anticipation was high coming into the first game of the new campaign, and the overnight rain did little to dampen the expectations of the Taunton faithful who turned out in their numbers for this opening fixture.
Over 2000 spectators filled the ground and those present witnessed a gripping day of red ball cricket.
After winning the toss, Somerset skipper Lewis Gregory elected to field.
However, it was the visitors who had the better of the opening exchanges as Gareth Roderick and Jake Libby brought up Worcestershire’s 50 in the 10th over.
The home side needed a breakthrough, and it came in the form of Jack Leach. The score had reached 70 when Libby edged through to Gregory at first slip for 30.
Roderick continued to bat fluently and brought up his half century from 76 balls. The Worcestershire 100 arrived shortly thereafter in the 26th over.
In a bid to stem the flow of runs, Gregory threw the ball to Aldridge and his introduction turned the tide in Somerset’s favour. He claimed two wickets in his third over and by the time the lunch interval arrived he had three and the visitors has slipped to 110 for four.
Kashif Ali was the first to go. Having survived a huge lbw appeal from Craig Overton, the Worcestershire batter fell to a beauty from Aldridge which nipped back and hit leg stump.
Three balls later, Ethan Brookes edged to Overton who took a good low catch at second slip, and when Adam Hose was bowled for four, Worcestershire had lost three wickets for just eight runs.
Shortly after the break, Roderick was tempted into a shot, Overton took the catch at second slip, Aldridge had four and Worcestershire were 111 for five.
Brett D’Oliveira and Matthew Waite shared a stand of 19 before the visiting skipper shouldered arms and was bowled to give Aldridge his fifth.
Waite and Tom Taylor brought up the Worcestershire 150 after 42 overs, but the remaining wickets fell for the addition of just four runs to the total.
Overton trapped Taylor (5) lbw and then dismissed Ben Allison (1) with an absolute beauty which shaped away from the batter and clattered into the stumps.
Tom Hinley (0) was next to depart when he edged an absolute snorter from Overton to Aldridge at second slip, and Gregory wrapped up the innings by trapping Adam Finch lbw for 0.
Aldridge finished with figures of five for 36 whilst Overton’s three wickets cost just 24 runs.
As the sun shone down on the bumper crowd, Archie Vaughan and Sean Dickson made their way to the middle looking to build on the outstanding work of their bowlers. However, Taylor looked determined not to be outdone by Aldridge and Overton and he began in metronomic fashion, consistently hitting a good line and length.
His reward came in the seventh over when Vaughan edged behind for 12 at 21 for one. Taylor then struck again in the 11th over when Tom Lammonby (8) flashed at one and was caught by Brookes at second slip.
When Sean Dickson was bowled by Finch for 11, Somerset were 39 for three in the 14th over. However, Abell and Banton brought up their sides 50 and saw the hosts safely to tea.
The 50 partnership between the two Toms arrived from 62 balls and they brought up the Somerset 100 in the 26th over.
Banton looked to be in fine touch and reached his own half century from 64 balls with 11 fours. Abell followed him to 50 from 73 deliveries with a boundary that also brought up the 100 partnership for the fourth wicket, but he fell to the very next ball, chipping Finch to Taylor at mid wicket with the scoreboard showing 140.
Banton remained steadfast at the crease, punishing anything that strayed and finished the day unbeaten on 84.
