Ballance stands firm to defy Somerset

Yorkshire’s batsmen, led by centurion Gary Ballance in partnership with Tom Kohler-Cadmore, secured the early advantage during a hard-fought opening day against leaders Somerset.

Somerset captain Tom Abell opted for an uncontested toss and to bowl first, a decision which looked questionable by the close, with Ballance and Kohler-Cadmore sharing a 199-run stand in 62 overs. Ballance finished with 111 off 212 balls and Kohler-Cadmore 77 not out off 180.

Openers Adam Lyth and Will Fraine laid the platform with a first-wicket partnership of 80 inside 28 overs, including a six apiece.

Lyth pulled Jamie Overton, Somerset’s most expensive bowler, over square leg before Fraine lofted the offspin of Dom Bess for a straight six into the new Emerald Stand.

Fraine was first to go when he flicked Jack Brooks to Bess just in front of square leg before Lyth miscued a cut at Bess to Abell diving forward at cover.

Ballance and Kohler-Cadmore took the sting out of the situation after lunch following those quick wickets.

The only real sign of aggression came when Ballance lofted Bess over mid-on for four during the second half of the afternoon, moving to 34 and the White Rose to 153 for two. They added 98 runs in 34 overs in the afternoon (181 for two at tea) and reached their fifties in the first two overs of the evening.

The rate picked up, with Ballance moving to his fifth century of the championship season off 194 balls with 19 fours, the last of them driven off Brooks to get him to his milestone.

Kohler-Cadmore was happy to play second fiddle, tiptoeing towards a first hundred of the campaign, which he will hope to secure early today.

Ballance fell to Tim Groenewald to make it 281 for three in the 93rd over – caught at second slip by Jamie Overton for Groenewald’s 400th first-class wicket. Josh Shaw ended the day as nightwatchman.