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Centuries for Tom and Kasey put Somerset on top
Impressive centuries from Tom Abell and Kasey Aldridge helped Somerset battle back on the second day of this Rothesay County Championship match against Hampshire at the Cooper Associates County Ground.
Somerset had slipped to 99 for five after Lewis Gregory had won the toss, but Abell and Aldridge rebuilt the innings and then some.
Their partnership was eventually worth 221, a sixth wicket record for Somerset against Hampshire, and swung the match back in Somerset’s favour after a tricky start.
After the frustration of yesterday, play finally got underway at Taunton today, although it did so six minutes late due to a short sharp shower just as the players were readying themselves to take to the field.
Hampshire were no doubt looking for revenge following Saturday’s Vitality Blast final, and they certainly had the better of the opening exchanges.
Tom Kohler Cadmore and Archie Vaughan had taken the hosts to 21 in the fourth over when the former sent a Keith Barker bouncer straight to Ali Orr at a deep(ish) square leg.
Four runs had been added to the total when Tom Lammonby (0) edged an outswinger from Barker through to Ben Brown.
Further rain caused a 35 minute delay just after 11am with the scoreboard showing 35 for two.
After the interruption, the score had advanced to 43 when Vaughan (19) prodded at one from Kyle Abbott and was caught behind.
The Somerset 50 arrived in the 15th over, brought up by a delicious shot from James Rew, and the Somerset ‘keeper was looking in fine touch as he moved seamlessly to 30. Unfortunately for the home side he dragged a wide one from James Fuller onto his stumps at 69 for four.
Abell and Lewis Goldsworthy then saw Somerset to lunch at 83 without further loss.
Goldsworthy fell for 22, caught behind off Washington Sundar with 99 on the board but Abell continued to plunder runs whenever possible.
Abell was joined by Aldridge and the pair batted positively, their contrasting styles complimenting each other beautifully. The 50 partnership arrived from 88 balls as Somerset past 150 in the 45th over.
Somerset’s former Captain reached his 50 from 99 deliveries, and shortly thereafter successive boundaries off Felix Organ took Aldridge to his half century (from 76 balls) and also brought up the 100 partnership (from 143).
The pair had taken their side to 208 for five at tea.
After the interval it was very much a case of ‘as you were’ as Abell and Aldridge continued to accumulate runs and the partnership reached 150 in the 70th over as the home side secured a first batting point.
A single off Fuller saw Abell achieve the 1000-run mark for the season and he reached a richly deserved century, his 20th in First Class Cricket, from 164 balls.
Aldridge brought up the home side’s 300 with a big six off Eddie Jack and went to a second First Class hundred from 155 balls.
Abell eventually fell for 118, bowled by Organ at 320 for six.
The new ball was taken ahead of the 87th over and Kyle Abbott, as he has so often done against Somerset in the past, struck almost immediately. The sixth delivery with the new cherry bowled Ben Green for eight with the score on 347.
By the close of play, Somerset had reached 381 for seven, with Aldridge unbeaten on a career-best 149 not out.
