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Somerset batters dominate again on day two
Lewis Goldsworthy completed a fine century and Tom Kohler-Cadmore celebrated his England call-up with a savage assault on Kent’s injury-hit bowling attack as Somerset’s batters dominated a rain affected third day of this LV= Insurance County Championship match at the Cooper Associates County Ground.
Summoned to take part in the one-day international series against Ireland at the conclusion of the game, Kohler-Cadmore smashed eight sixes in scoring 68 from just 31 balls as the home side extended their first innings total to 404 for four before rain washed out the last two sessions.
Goldsworthy marked his first Championship appearance of the season with 122, his second First Class century, and Andy Umeed contributed 49 to a Somerset run blitz that saw them add 190 to the overnight 214 for two in an extended morning comprising 32.4 overs.
However, it was Kohler-Cadmore’s onslaught that did most to shatter the morale of a Kent side battling relegation and without Michael Hogan, who was added to their lengthy injury list on the opening day. Coming in at 310 for three, Kohler-Cadmore hit his second ball for six and went on to reach fifty off 27 deliveries.
After a second day washout, play began in more sedate fashion with Goldsworthy looking to build on his overnight score of 70. Having left out their specialist spinners and seen Hogan limp off after bowling only 11.2 overs in the innings, Kent again proved powerless to capitalise on a green pitch.
There was an extraordinary incident with the total on 245 for two and Goldsworthy on 79. He jammed down on a yorker from Jas Singh and saw part of the toe of his bat fly off and dislodge a bail before dismay over a bizarre dismissal turned to relief at the umpire’s call of no-ball.
Umeed blossomed from a watchful start, hitting two fours in an over from Daniel Bell-Drummond, before a leg-glanced boundary off the same bowler took Goldsworthy to his hundred off 177 balls, with 12 fours.
Umeed cleared the ropes over wide long-on off Jack Leaning and was one short of a half-century when the Kent skipper took revenge with his off-breaks, wicketkeeper Harry Finch accepting a thin edge.
Kohler-Cadmore made his intentions clear from the start, lofting Leaning over long-off. He cleared the ropes seven more times, including twice in a Joe Denly over and three times in one from Arafat Bhuiyan, losing the second new ball by blasting it into and beyond a car park.
Kent had delayed taking it, but were forced to do so when two extra overs of spin from Leaning and Denly saw Somerset add 29 runs. The second over with new cherry saw Kohler-Cadmore hit 6,4,6,6 off successive Arafat deliveries and, together with four byes and a leg-bye, cost 27.
The second of those sixes, launched into the top tier of the Ondaatje Pavilion, took Kohler-Cadmore to a memorable half-century, which pressed his case to be more than a spectator when joining the England squad this weekend.
Goldsworthy had been wisely content to play a supporting role and an attempt at a bigger shot proved his downfall, caught at cover by Leaning off Singh, having faced 203 balls and batted for four and a half hours without giving a chance.
Kent were then presented with the sight of James Rew, the highest scorer in the Championship First Division this season, walking to the crease. He had added three runs to his tally, taking it to 1,080, by the time lunch was taken at 12.40pm.
During the interval, a special presentation was made to the departing Jack Brooks who received a warm reception from the Somerset faithful.
During the interval rain began falling and became heavier. It continued for much of the afternoon and umpires Tom Lungley and Martin Saggers abandoned play for the day at 4.50pm, with Kent having secured just one bonus point in their desperate battle for First Division survival.
