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Century for Tom on Day Two
Tom Abell scored a superb hundred as Somerset ended the second day of this Rothesay County Championship match against Yorkshire at the Cooper Associates County Ground within touching distance of 400.
The hosts resumed on 155 for three but any hope of James Rew building on his overnight score of 54 vanished when he edged the third ball of the day from Jack White through to Bairstow.
Fellow left-hander Lewis Goldsworthy replaced Rew and picked up where the Somerset ‘keeper left off, batting sensibly and accumulating his runs intelligently as did Abell at the other end.
The 50-partnership for the fifth wicket came from 131 balls and by the time the lunch interval arrived Somerset were 235 for four.
Shortly after the break, Abell advanced to his 50 from 118 deliveries and the scoreboard ticked over to 250 as Somerset claimed a first batting point.
Having reached his half century, the former Somerset skipper had to survive a tricky 83rd over, bowled by Jack White.
The first delivery saw him cut the ball and it looked for all the world as if it would race to the boundary but a flying Mayank Agarwal saved his side three runs. It was either a brilliant stop or a dropped catch depending on your allegiance. Abell also survived a vociferous lbw appeal as Yorkshire looked to make the new ball, taken after 81 overs, count.
Whilst the drama unfolded at the other end, Goldsworthy kept his score ticking over and reached his 50 from 146 balls.
Unfortunately for those gathered in the stands, rain began to fall just after 2pm and the players departed from the field of play. This resulted in the taking of an early tea and no resumption of play until 3:20pm.
Goldsworthy and Abell took their partnership to 143 before Goldsworthy fell lbw to Dan Moriarty for 65 at 298 for five. However, Somerset claimed a second batting point when the score reached 300 in the 100th over.
Abell went to his 19th First Class century from 202 balls with a glorious reverse sweep off Dom Bess. Another boundary off his former teammate brought up the he 50-partnership with Kasey Aldridge from 70 balls and took the scoreboard past 350 which secured another priceless bonus point.
Abell’s superb innings finally came to an end at 130 when he attempted to slog-sweep Bess and was caught on the boundary in front of the Somerset Stand. He rightly received a warm ovation as he left the field with the scoreboard showing 390 for six.
Bad light stopped play with 13.3 overs remaining in the day and no further play was possible.
It was a disappointing end to what had been another good day for Somerset with the bat.
