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Tom digs in as Anderson shows his class
Tom Lammonby dug in on a difficult day for Somerset as James Anderson showed his class at a damp Emirates Old Trafford on day one of this LV= Insurance County Championship match against Lancashire.
Anderson, playing his fourth consecutive four-day game for the Red Rose and his final game before the one-off Test against Ireland, gave notice of his readiness for England duty with an eight-over opening spell during which he bowled five maidens, was hit for five runs and claimed the wickets of Steven Davis and Tom Abell.
Although Somerset had recovered from 12 for three to 109 for four by the time torrential rain hit the ground at 2.45pm, it was Anderson’s spell that will have England supporters hoping for brighter days with the Ashes beginning in just over a month.
It had looked like a toss to win earlier in the morning as a combination of humidity and grey cloud cover meant Lancashire had no hesitation in sticking the visitors in.
They duly reaped the rewards with a classic spell of swing bowling from England’s leading wicket taker.
Davis was the first to depart when he edged Anderson’s first ball to him to Tom Hartley at second slip for four with the relieved Hartley grabbing the chance after earlier dropping Tom Lammonby off the same bowler.
Luke Wells had also been guilty of a fumbled chance at first slip off Anderson before Davis was dismissed but it was Anderson himself who was to blame when Lammonby was dropped a third time with the bowler unable to pouch a return chance to his left.
An angry Anderson is a dangerous Anderson and Abell became the bowler’s second victim soon after when he was trapped in front for one before Will Williams accounted for George Bartlett lbw without scoring.
Fresh from scoring a century against Northamptonshire last week, Tom Kohler-Cadmore came out full of attacking intent but paid for his extravagance when he was bowled by Saqib Mahmood for 20 attempting a booming slog to cow corner.
Determined to make the most of his opportunities, Lammonby settled in for the long haul and played a mature innings as Somerset made it to lunch and an hour beyond without any further alarms with the opener unbeaten on 34 from 145 balls and James Rew 20 not out when the rain came.
Play was eventually abandoned at 5.30pm with 19-year-old Rew hoping he can continue his good form against Lancashire who he scored 117 against at Taunton last month.
