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TKC shows his class on day two
Tom Kohler-Cadmore claimed his maiden Somerset half century with a fine batting display as his side ended the second day of this LV= Insurance County Championship match against Northamptonshire in the driving seat.
By the close of play he had moved to 95 not out from just 71 balls as Somerset recovered from the loss of early wickets to finish on 199 for four, trailing by just 56 runs.
The day began with the visitors extending their overnight first innings score of 137 for four to 255 all out, James Sales contributing 57, while Jack Leach (three for 15) and Lewis Gregory (three for 66) were the most successful bowlers.
In reply, Somerset slipped to 61 for three before Cameron Bancroft (39) helped Kohler-Cadmore add 53.
Play started at 11.30pm following heavy showers, with Northamptonshire looking to claim a first batting point of the season.
Sales, on five, survived a shoulder-high chance to Bancroft at second slip off Craig Overton and it was Gregory who made the first breakthrough with the score on 164 when Rob Keogh, on 19, fell lbw looking to on-drive a fullish delivery.
Somerset’s seamers went past the bat on numerous occasions. But their luck changed when Harry Gouldstone followed a short, leg-side delivery from Peter Siddle and feathered a catch to wicketkeeper James Rew.
At 181 for six, the visitors were in danger of missing out on batting points again. But Sales and Tom Taylor added 46 for the seventh wicket, forcing Somerset skipper Tom Abell to turn to the left-arm spin of Leach with the total on 203.
Taylor pulled fours off successive deliveries from Overton. But, on 28, he carelessly drove Leach in the air to mid-off where Overton took a throat-high catch without having to move.
It was 232 for six at lunch, with Sales unbeaten on 44. He reached a valuable 96-ball half-century, but began to run out of partners as Jordan Buckingham advanced down the pitch to Leach and was comfortably stumped by Rew.
A Sales single off Siddle took his side to 250 and that elusive batting point, but five runs later Ben Sanderson was bowled by a quicker ball from Leach. Sales had to go on the offensive, but chose the wrong shot and was bowled by Siddle attempting a scoop to end the innings.
Following a rain-break at eight for no wicket in their reply, Tom Lammonby fell lbw to White for five. Sean Dickson, having reached 17, drove at a ball from Sanderson and was caught behind.
Tom Abell walked to the crease with his side 25 for two and helped Bancroft take the score to 61, but he then drove at Buckingham and edged a sharp catch to Vasconcelos at first slip, giving the young Australian seamer his first Northants wicket.
Kohler-Cadmore flashed at Buckingham’s next delivery and the ball flew over the slips for four. He and Bancroft then set about showing Somerset supporters their true capabilities. Boundaries began to flow, with Bancroft particularly strong off the back foot and Kohler-Cadmore looking to be aggressive from the outset.
Bancroft brought the 100 up with a sweet clip off his legs for four off White, while his partner appeared intent on hitting his way into form, taking two fours off an over from Sanderson.
At 113 for three, Northants successfully requested a change of ball. It worked immediately as Bancroft got a thick edge to White and wicketkeeper Gouldstone took a low diving catch.
Undeterred, Kohler-Cadmore reached a sparkling fifty off just 37 balls, with 11 fours. The bowlers began to bowl shorter to him and he took up the challenge with some meaty pull shots.
A straight six off Buckingham brought up another half-century stand, to which the patient Rew contributed seven runs. Kohler-Cadmore was dropped at mid-off on 86 by a back-pedalling White off Buckingham, but by then had announced his Somerset arrival in style.
