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Worcestershire dig in on day three
Worcestershire frustrated Somerset on the third day of this Rothesay County Championship First Division clash at the Cooper Associates County Ground.
Any hopes that the home side had of wrapping up this game early were dashed by a gritty and determined batting display by the visitors, but Lewis Gregory’s side are still in the box seat and will be confident of claiming victory tomorrow.
The overnight declaration was not forthcoming which meant that the Somerset faithful were able to enjoy more of Tom Banton’s Herculean innings.
Resuming on his record breaking total of 344, it didn’t take him long to become the first ever Somerset batter to achieve 350 in First Class cricket, the feat coming from 392 deliveries.
The Somerset 650 arrived in the 147th over, and there was even time for Banton to take his partnership with Lewis Gregory to three figures.
However, all good things must come to an end, and so it came to pass that he reached 371 but would go no further.
Somerset’s record breaker fell when he feathered Tom Hinley through to Gareth Roderick.
As he left the field the Cooper Associates Count Ground rose as one to pay tribute to a truly monumental knock. His runs came from 403 balls and his wonderful innings included 56 fours and two sixes.
Unsurprisingly, the declaration then came with the scoreboard showing 670 for seven, a lead of 516.
Worcestershire’s sizable task became even more troublesome when Craig Overton trapped Roderick lbw for six in the seventh over with just 16 runs on the board.
The scored had advanced to 40 when Jake Libby fell in similar fashion to Jack Leach for 16. The Worcestershire 50 arrived in the 21st over and by lunch the visitors had advanced to 58 without further loss.
At this point the hosts could smell blood, but Kashif Ali and Ethan Brookes had other ideas and brought up the 50 partnership for the third wicket from 76 balls before the latter top edge swept Leach to deep backward square leg where Sean Dickson takes the catch. Brookes departed for 35 at 95 for three.
Kashif Ali had batted nicely on his way to 51, his half century coming from 85 balls, but he inexplicably slapped Leach to Overton at mid off with the score on 116.
With Somerset well and truly in the ascendancy once again, Worcestershire needed someone to stand firm. That person was former Somerset batter Adam Hose.
The 32-year-old looked impressive and found the ideal foil in Brett D’Oliveira. The pair added 50 in 67 deliveries and Hose brought up his own half century from 68 balls. By tea they had taken Worcestershire to 191 for four.
The pair continued to accrue runs at a steady pace and the 100 partnership arrived in 163 balls before the Worcestershire Captain reached his half century.
The new ball was taken but the Worcestershire pair continued unabated, taking their partnership past the 150 mark. However, with Hose contemplating his second First Class hundred, Kasey Aldridge struck.
The Somerset seamer claimed five wickets in Worcestershire’s first innings and he sent Hose back to the dressing room for 82 after trapping him lbw at 274 for five. The fifth wicket partnership had been worth 158 and had given Worcestershire a lifeline.
D’Oliveira reached the close of play unbeaten on 71 with the scoreboard showing 280 for five, still a deficit of 236.
Worcestershire lived to fight another day but Somerset will be looking to go for the kill tomorrow.
