Rew and Aldridge hit tons as Somerset’s game ends in a draw
LANCASHIRE and Somerset played out a draw which kept both teams hovering above the relegation places in the Championship table, seventh and eighth respectively, following a final-day stalemate at Emirates Old Trafford.
Somerset batted through the entire day, extended their second innings to 398-5 and 433 runs ahead, with James Rew adding to his burgeoning reputation in making an unbeaten 118, his second century of the match, and becoming the leading run-scorer in the County Championship.
Lancashire eventually rested their frontline attack, throwing the ball to their batters – and wicketkeeper – for the second half of the day before the teams shook hands at 4.50pm.
Starting on 114-3 and ahead by 149 runs, Somerset progressed steadily through the morning session, Tom Lammonby posting a season-best 78 before his failed attempt to launch Tom Hartley towards the new hotel being constructed at midwicket presented George Bell with an easy stumping.
Tom Kohler-Cadmore was the other morning departure for 11 after playing inside a Will Williams delivery that knocked back his off stump.
Rew provided some acceleration, hitting five boundaries off eight deliveries once the visitors lead had passed the 200-mark, with the nineteen-year-old reaching a 92-ball fifty early in the afternoon.
But the game drifted along from that point and just after the halfway stage of the day, with the lead now beyond 300 and no declaration forthcoming, there was the rare sight of two batters, Steven Croft and Dane Vilas, sharing the second new ball. Josh Bohannon went behind the stumps as wicketkeeper Bell also undertook bowling duties.
For Croft it was a return to seamup bowling for the first time since the early part of his lengthy career, while Vilas added 11 overs of rightarm medium pace to his previous solitary over in a Red Rose shirt.
That was followed by Bell sending down 10 overs of off spin with Lancashire using nine bowlers in a first-class innings for the first time since 2003.
Rew reached his second century of the match just before tea from 196 balls, the batter only giving the barest of waves with the bat to acknowledge the landmark, while Kasey Aldridge struck an unbeaten 101 – reaching his maiden firstclass century in style with a pull for six – in a partnership of 192.
But the afternoon’s play seemed to many to be to be a somewhat farcical conclusion to the match from which Lancashire took nine points and Somerset 10.
Lancashire are not in Championship action for a month until they host Hampshire at Southport, while Somerset travel to Lord’s to face Middlesex next week.
As the Bristol Post went to press last night, Gloucestershire’s Division Two game against Derbuyshire at Derby looked to be heading for a draw.
Gloucestershire advanced their second innings from an overnight 195-5 to 383 all out to establish a first-innings advantage of 132.
Youngster Luke Charlesworth moved from an unbeaten 58 overnight on to 87 before being dismissed by Henry Brookes. Zafar Ghar (53) and Matt Taylor (57 not out) produced some big-hitting in a ninth-wicket stand of 99 as Gloucestershire tried to set up a victory chance.
Those hopes increased as Derbyshire were reduced to 28-3 in their second innings, but good resistance thereafter held up Gloucestershire’s bid for victory. With a minimum of 16 overs left, Derbyshire were on 151-5.