Somerset build big lead on day two
Somerset’s batters ensured that their side tightened their stranglehold on the second day of this Rothesay County Championship match against Glamorgan at the Cooper Associates County Ground.
Tom Lammonby top scored, falling just five runs short of his century, whilst there were also half centuries for Josh Thomas, James Rew and Archie Vaughan as Somerset secured a first innings lead of 247.
By the close of play, Glamorgan were 30 for one in their second innings, still trailing by 217.
Light rain this morning resulted in a forty-minute delay to the start of play but it didn’t take long for Thomas to go to his 50. He went to the milestone from a total of 86 deliveries and in doing so took his side past the 100 mark.
Thomas had advanced to 59 when he chased a wide one from Mir Hamza and was caught behind. The Somerset opener seemed to be livid with himself as he left the field of play at 114 for one.
Lammonby’s 50 arrived from 99 balls and he looked well set to claim his 10th First Class hundred. A classic flick off his pads for four saw the left-hander take his side to 150, but with the score on 154 Lewis Goldsworthy (11) looked to pull Mason Crane but top edged to a diving Hamza.
Lammonby received a life on 91 when he was caught behind off Dan Douthwaite, but it was called a no ball due to there being three fielders behind square on the leg side.
Unfortunately for the home side, Lammonby was not able to make the most of his reprieve as he was caught and bowled by Douthwaite for 95 at 208 for three. The partnership with Henry Nicholls was worth 54.
That soon became 212 for four when Nicholls under edged Crane onto his boot and Colin Ingram took a sharp chance.
The ever-dependable Tom Abell and James Rew brought up the half century partnership for the fifth wicket from 80 balls, and by tea the stand was worth 76 with the scoreboard showing 288.
The Somerset 300 arrived in the 84th over and Rew went to 50 from 78 deliveries. The partnership was worth 94 and the total was 306 when Abell was caught at first slip off the bowling of Timm van der Gugten for 45.
Rew followed Abell back to the pavilion shortly thereafter, caught down the leg side by Cooke off Hamza for 52.
The Somerset 350, and a third batting point, arrived in the 92nd over whilst the 50-run partnership for the seventh wicket between Craig Overton and Vaughan came from just 47 balls. The stand had reached 69 when Overton went for one big shot too many and was stumped for 41 at 383 for seven.
The fourth batting point arrived in the 102nd over as Gregory claimed back to back boundaries off Crane, much to the delight of the sizable crowd who remained in the Taunton early evening sunshine.
The Somerset Captain continued to look to accelerate but was caught at long-off for 14 to give Crane a third wicket at 408 for eight.
However, Vaughan kept the scoreboard ticking over and went to his half century, his second of the season, from 59 balls shortly before depositing Ben Kellaway high into the Somerset Stand for a huge six, the first of the innings. Kellaway gained a revenge of sorts, bowling Jack Leach (4) just two deliveries after the ball was recovered from the stands.
Another big maximum from Vaughan, this time into the Hildreth Stand, saw him register his highest First Class score of the season as Somerset honed in on a potentially crucial fifth batting point.
Unfortunately for the hosts, Vaughan was stumped for 68 in the 110th over as his side were dismissed for 441, a more than healthy first innings lead. Crane was the pick of the bowlers, claiming four for 95.
Glamorgan openers, Crane and Asa Tribe were required to survive six overs, but the former fell to the last ball of the day, bowled by Leach, courtesy of a fine catch from Lammonby at silly point and Somerset stamped their authority on the game once more.
