Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Abell puts Somerset very much in charge
HALF-CENTURIES from Tom Abell and Steven Davies helped Somerset to an 85-run first-innings lead on the second day of their County Championship match before Leicestershire reduced that to 37 at stumps.
The home side – who were three down for 48 runs in their second innings by the close – must contend without skipper Colin Ackermann, who will take no further part after being struck on the forehead fielding at first slip just before lunch.
Rishi Patel, his 22-year-old replacement under the concussion protocols, is not out having made a gutsy 27 under pressure against a fired-up Somerset attack.
Abell played beautifully at times but rode his luck in making 88, surviving a close run-out call on 15 before being dropped on 54.
He shared a 112-run fifth-wicket partnership with George Bartlett and although both were dismissed in quick succession by seamer Ben Mike, who finished with three for 50, Davies made a typically-elegant 59 to give Somerset the upper hand.
Craig Overton removed Harry Dearden and Marcus Harris in a devastating spell with the new ball, the former brilliantly caught by Abell diving to his left at slip before Australian Test opener Harris fell for just seven, miscuing a hook to square leg to leave them 21 for three.
Josh Davey had already found the edge to have Hassan Azad caught behind.
Somerset finished with 53 for three on day one, but nightwatchman Jack Leach was Leicestershire’s sole scalp as 104 runs were added in an eventful morning in which Bartlett was also dropped on 21 in the incident in which Ackermann was injured.
Leicestershire were convinced Abell was gone to a direct hit by Lewis Hill, swooping to field on the leg side as he scrambled a single off Chris Wright, although it looked a tough call for umpire Tim Robinson without the aid of technology.
After Leach was bowled off an inside edge by Mike, Abell was dropped on 54 off left-arm spinner Callum Parkinson, Ackermann shelling the chance at slip after the ball glanced the gloves of wicketkeeper Harry Swindells.
It was from a similar, turning ball that Bartlett had his escape on 21, the ball again deflected by Swindells and this time felling Ackermann.
After treatment on the field, the 30-year-old South African-born allrounder continued to field for the last two overs of the session but did not reappear after lunch.
Having added 55 to that point, the fifth-wicket pair continued to profit, Abell reeling off some beautifullytimed off-drives and cuts to take their partnership into three figures.
When Mike had Abell caught at second slip, undone by a ball that swung away late, and Bartlett, on 48, pulled him straight to short midwicket, Leicestershire sensed a chance but Davies – though out tamely when he clipped a ball from Gavin Griffiths straight to leg gully – made sure the advantage was with his side.
■ James Bracey again underlined his Test match credentials in front of England batting coach Marcus Trescothick to help Gloucestershire lay a solid platform in response to Hampshire’s big first innings total.
The 23-year-old and West Indies opener Kraigg Brathwaite put on 88 for the second-wicket before the latter fell late in the day for 60 to leave the visitors on 114 for two at the close, having earlier bowled out the hosts for 470.
Bracey, named as a reserve for England’s tour of Sri Lanka earlier this year, was 46 not out against a strong attack spearheaded by Mohammed Abass and Kyle Abbott.