Yorkshire claim dramatic win on day four
It was a day of tension and high drama at the Cooper Associates County Ground as Yorkshire overcame Somerset in a nail-biting rollercoaster Rothesay County Championship encounter.
The balance of power shifted constantly throughout the four days, but it was the White Rose County who came out on top by 75 runs to leave the hosts pondering the result after dominating the opening salvos of the clash.
It was the Yorkshire spinners who made the biggest impact today with Dom Bess (4/60) and Joe Root (4/49) making the difference despite another half century from Josh Thomas.
The visitors resumed on 365 for nine this morning, and it didn’t take long for Jhye Richardson to gain the two runs he required to reach his half century.
Yorkshire’s 10th wicket partnership was worth 34 and had added six runs to the overnight total when Richardson looked to steer Craig Overton to third but edged behind to depart for 50.
With the target set at 260, Somerset knew that a solid start was required to settle the nerves. Unfortunately, that was the opposite of what came to fruition as the home side slipped to 21 for three.
Archie Vaughan (4) was bowled by the opening delivery of the fourth over which was sent down by George Hill, and nine for one soon became 16 for two when Hill accounted for Lammonby (4) in similar fashion.
James Rew has been a rock for Somerset so far this season and the bumper bank holiday crowd at Taunton were hanging their hopes on another fine innings from the 22-year-old. Sadly, it wasn’t to be for the Somerset ‘keeper as he looked to drive Bess but edged behind for two.
Josh Thomas and Tom Abell weathered the storm and saw their side through to lunch on 57 for three, still requiring 203.
After the break, the 50 partnership between the pair arrived from the 120th delivery that they had faced, and the confidence began to grow throughout those present.
That air of optimism was temporarily quashed by ex-Somerset spinner, Bess.
Abell had reached 41 (and the partnership was worth 64) when he edged his former teammate to Hill at first slip at 85 for four; a dismissal that may come up in conversation at Bess’ upcoming wedding at which Abell will be Best Man.
It was turning out to be quite a game for Thomas, though. The 21-year-old made a career best 136 in the first innings and his second innings 50 arrived from 120 balls.
Abell’s departure brought Thomas Rew to the crease and the pressure was on the young debutant after failing to score in the first innings, but it was pressure that he initially handled with aplomb.
The 50-partnership for the fifth wicket came from 89 balls, but just as Somerset looked to be taking control again Thomas fell to Bess for 57, again the ball ending up in the hands of Hill at first slip.
The tension was palpable and when Rew (30) looked to cut Root but feathered behind, Yorkshire could smell blood.
With 118 runs still required, and just four Somerset wickets remaining, the visitors were suddenly in the ascendancy. Their grip was strengthened when Overton (2) flicked Root to Adam Lyth at short leg at 152 for seven.
When tea arrived, the home side still needed 93 runs and the pendulum had well and truly swung.
Two wickets fell in two balls in the second over after tea, bowled by Root, to put the nail in the Somerset coffin as first Will Smeed looked to play off the back foot but edged to Hill at first slip before Migael Pretorius smashed his first delivery straight back to the bowler.
The death knell sounded when Bess bowled Ogborne for one as Yorkshire claimed 19 points from the match compared to Somerset’s four.
