Yorkshire frustrate Somerset on day three
Yorkshire’s batters ensured that Somerset will need to chase in excess of 250 on the final day if they are to win this Rothesay County Championship match at the Cooper Associates County Ground.
James Wharton (92) was the star for Yorkshire today and he was ably supported by Joe Root (64), Dom Bess (40) and Jhye Richardson (48*) as the White Rose County finished the day on 365 for nine, a lead of 253.
Yorkshire resumed on 13 without loss with Fin Bean and Adam Lyth advancing the total by 11 runs before Craig Overton made the breakthrough. Bean was the batter to fall, bowled for 12.
The score had moved to 43 when Overton struck again. This time it was Lyth (16) who departed. Looking to drive, he could only edge behind to James Rew.
Joe Root arrived at the crease and survived a vociferous lbw appeal from Lewis Gregory. Despite the Somerset skipper pleading on his knees, the umpires were unmoved.
Somerset’s frustration proved to be Yorkshire reprieve as the former England Captain began to move through the gears.
The 50-partnership for the third wicket with James Wharton arrived from 81 balls, and the pair took their side to three figures in the 26th over.
By the time the lunch interval arrived, the score had advanced to 140, a lead of 28.
After the interval, Root went to 50 from 79 deliveries with the 100 partnership arriving from 158 balls.
The visitor’s 150 came in the 40th over shortly before Wharton reached his half century from 99 deliveries.
Finally the breakthrough came for the home side and it was the one that they wanted.
Root eventually fell for 64 at 166 for three when he was bowled by a full delivery from Overton which nipped back and clattered into the stumps.
However, Wharton and Jonny Bairstow kept the scoreboard ticking over and took their side past 200, but with the lead at exactly 100 the Yorkshire skipper slashed at Migael Pretorius and top edged to Josh Thomas at deep third to depart for 18 at 212 for four.
Just two runs had been added to the total when Pretorius struck again as Matthew Revis feathered behind for one.
Wharton’s excellent innings concluded just eight runs shy of his hundred when he edged Alfie Ogborne to Gregory at first slip with the score on 226.
By the time the tea interval arrived, the visitors had advanced to 257 for six, a lead of 145.
During the evening session, George Hill and Dom Bess continued to take the sting out of the Somerset attack, rotating the strike effectively and frustrating the bowlers. However, their partnership was worth 47 when Hill departed for 31 after edging Gregory to Overton who took a good diving catch at second slip.
When it looked like Bess and Logan van Beek would continue to dig in and thwart the home attack, the latter was bowled through the gate by one from Archie Vaughan that turned sharply at 286 for eight.
With 29 overs remaining, Somerset elected to take the new ball but it failed to have the impact that the home side had hoped for as Bess and Jhye Richardson ushered the visitors past the 300-mark. Their partnership was eventually worth a vexing 51 when Bess (40) picked out substitute fielder Jake Ball at deep mid wicket with the scoreboard showing 337.
Richardson continued to accumulate runs, much to the chagrin of the fielding side, and he ended the day just two runs short of his half century.
Somerset will be looking to wrap up the Yorkshire tail early tomorrow if they are to attempt to chase down would could become a sizable total if they fail to do so.
