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Tom and Lewis give Somerset the edge on day one
Somerset fought back to edge an absorbing first day against Surrey on day one at the Kia Oval.
Tom Lammonby made 76 but from 146 for two, Somerset fell to 187 for seven before skipper Lewis Gregory led a fightback by their tail with 62 as 96 were added for the last three wickets. Gregory was caught in the deep in the final over with Somerset dismissed for 283, whilst Jordan Clark picked up five for 68.
Surrey bowled with consistency and before a partnership of 62 for the eighth wicket between Gregory and Josh Davey, only 12 boundaries had been scored, 11 of them in a stand of 98 between Lammonby and Archie Vaughan, who shaped up well for his 36.
The wicket had a good covering of grass and it was no surprise that for the 18th consecutive First Class or Test match there, the team winning the toss elected to bowl.
However, Lammonby and Vaughan were able to construct an important alliance after Sean Dickson had to retire when he was hit on the right hand in Gus Atkinson’s first over.
Surrey finally broke through in the third over after lunch. Atkinson produced a fine delivery which nipped away at decent pace and Vaughan (36) was held at second slip.
Worrall got a deserved success with a ball which shaped away that Tom Abell edged low to second slip, but Lammonby and Tom Banton got stuck in for the next 20 overs although aggressive shots were rare in their third-wicket stand of 48.
Clark returned to remove Banton, who was turned around by a straightish delivery and Lammonby moved across his stumps to Worrall and had his leg stump pegged back. He’d faced 173 balls with seven fours.
Atkinson accounted for James Rew (6), who played on, before Clark struck with successive deliveries after tea. Kasey Aldridge was bowled around his legs aiming towards fine leg and Migael Pretorious bowled groping forward.
When it looked as though Somerset were struggling, Gregory and Davey began to prosper.
Clark finally broke the stand when he nipped one back into Davey’s pads. Jack Leach was expertly taken down the leg side by Ben Foakes – the 500th dismissal of his First Class career – but the day ended with Dickson returning to help Gregory, who hit three sixes and five fours, add a further 33.
