Career bests and tumbling records on a remarkable third day
Tom Abell and Tom Lammonby amassed career-best scores as Somerset put the Surrey bowlers to the sword on the third day of this Rothesay County Championship First Division match at the Cooper Associates County Ground.
Lammonby made 229 whilst Abell finished unbeaten on 284 as Somerset finished the day on 691 for eight, (the Club’s third highest ever First Class score) with a lead of 269.
During the afternoon, news filtered through from Edgbaston that victory for Warwickshire over Leicestershire had handed the Birmingham-based side the County Championship title, but that disappointment was somewhat tempered by Yorkshire’s victory over Nottinghamshire to help Somerset cement a second place finish.
Thoughts of what could have been were brushed to one side as records tumbled and two of Somerset’s four Tom’s showed their genuine quality in front of another big crowd at Taunton.
Resuming on 222 for three, Abell and Lammonby’s partnership for the fourth wicket soon reached the 150-mark (from 303 balls), before the pair took their side past 250.
The new ball was taken but the runs continued to flow from Somerset’s Toms. Indeed, Lammonby surpassed his previous high score of 133, made against Warwickshire last summer, by crashing Reese Topley to the boundary.
Abell received a life whilst on 87 when he was dropped at short extra cover off Mahipal Lomror, but the partnership reached 200 shortly before the Somerset total passed 300.
Abell reached three figures from 194 deliveries and Lammonby amassed 150 for the first time in his career from 293 balls.
When the partnership reached 252 it became Somerset’s highest fourth wicket stand against Surrey, surpassing the 251 between Viv Richards and Peter Roebuck at Weston-super-Mare in 1977.
By the time the lunch interval arrived, Somerset were 353 for three.
Lammonby continued to look imperious after the break and his double hundred came off 337 balls.
His magnificent innings finally came to an end when he was trapped lbw by Dan Worrall for a superb 229. His runs, Somerset’s 23rd highest ever in First Class cricket, came from 359 balls and included 28 four and two sixes. The partnership, Somerset’s highest ever for the fourth wicket, was worth 334.
James Rew (1) returned to the dressing room after attempting to reverse sweep Lomror but he miscued and Rory Burns took the catch at first slip.
Abell’s 150 arrived from 282 deliveries and a flick off his hips saw him surpass his previous highest First Class score of 156 as Somerset continued to pile on the runs.
By tea the score had advanced to 480, a lead of 58.
After the break, the 50 partnership for the sixth wicket arrived from 83 balls shortly before the 500 was displayed in the 137th over.
The partnership, which had advanced to 63, was broken at 503 for six when Archie Vaughan (26) was caught behind looking to sweep Lomror.
Craig Overton (1) looked to accelerate but picked out Albert at mid off to give Lomror a fourth wicket with the score on 511.
Abell’s 200 came from 338 balls but Lewis Gregory departed for 12 when he was caught and bowled by Adam Thomas at 532 for eight. The Surrey bowler taking a sharp chance low down.
Back to back sixes from Migael Pretorius kept the scoreboard ticking over, and the South African’s aggression complimented Abell perfectly.
Abell continued to play beautifully and his 250 came from 374 deliveries.
The 100 partnership for the ninth wicket arrived from just 87 balls and Pretorius went to 50 from 52.
Abell dispatched the final four balls of the 161st over, sent down by Ralphie Alpert, high into the Lord Botham Stand to pile the misery onto the visitors and the 150 partnership was reached from just 105 balls.
By the close of play, Somerset had gone past the previous highest total against Surrey (688 for eight declared at Guildford in 2006).
Another large crowd is expected at the Cooper Associates County Ground with tickets costing just £10 for adults and £1 for juniors.
