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50s for Rew, Abell and Banton on day one
There were half centuries for James Rew (58), Tom Abell (64) and Tom Banton (57*) on the opening day of this Rothesay County Championship First Division match between Somerset and Nottinghamshire at the Cooper Associates County Ground.
The hosts rebuilt after a difficult start to finish the day on 275 for six
The match marks Somerset’s first ever Festival of Red Ball Cricket and it was heartening to see that the affinity for four day cricket is still very much alive and well in the South West with the queue of Members and supporters stretching down the length of St James Street ahead of the gates opening this morning.
Craig Overton, once again captaining the side in the absence of Lewis Gregory, won the toss and elected to bat on a day that saw just shy of 3000 people come through the turnstiles.
Sean Dickson and Tom Kohler-Cadmore walked out to the middle under overcast skies at Taunton and could only share an opening stand of 10 before Dickson, playing his first red ball match since injuring his hand against Surry in April, fell lbw to Brett Hutton for 0.
10 for one soon became 22 for two when Tom Lammonby edged Hutton behind and departed for two.
However, Kohler-Cadmore continued to accumulate runs in fluid fashion, indeed one back foot punch was worth hanging on a gallery wall. He had scored 31 of Somerset’s 46 runs when he got an absolute beauty from Mohammad Abbas and edged behind to leave Somerset three down and in a spot of bother.
However, Rew and Abell dug in and brought up the 50 partnership for the fourth wicket from 81 balls and took their side to three figures on the stroke of lunch.
After the interval, Somerset’s ‘keeper went to his 50 from 86 balls and the partnership with Abell was worth 99 when he drove the ball back to Lyndon James who took a sharp catch off his own bowling. Rew departed for 58 but it was an important knock in the context of the game and one which brought Somerset right back into this contest.
Banton was given a life whilst on two, dropped by Liam Patterson-White at first slip off the bowling of James when it seemed easier to take the catch.
Abell went to 50, his fourth of the campaign, from 126 balls and added 34 with Banton before he was caught behind off Patterson-White looking to flick one off his pads. He departed for 64 at 179 for five.
By the time the tea interval arrived, Banton and Archie Vaughan had ensured that Somerset had reached 185 for five.
The 200 arrived after 67 overs and it also heralded the arrival of a flock of seagulls (the birds, not the 80s pop act with questionable hair) which remained for the duration of the day’s action in sizable numbers.
The 50 partnership came from 83 balls and the 250, with its first batting point, arrived in the 83rd over. Unfortunately, Vaughan fell for 35, caught by Jack Haynes off the bowling of Mohammad Abbas, without further addition to the Somerset total. The partnership was worth 71.
Banton went to 50 from 103 balls and alongside Kasey Aldridge ensured that Somerset finished the day in a much healthier position than appeared likely during the opening exchanges.
