Batsmen dig in to earn draws for West counties
TOM Lammonby continued his excellent start to the season as Somerset earned a Vitality County Championship draw against Worcestershire at Kidderminster.
Lammonby dug in to score his third half-century of the season, in addition to his hundred against champions Surrey. His unbeaten 81 lifted his run tally for the campaign past the 350-mark and he received excellent support from Andrew Umeed during a decisive fourthwicket partnership.
When the duo joined forces, the visitors were still 76 runs in arrears at 66 for three, but they effectively blunted the attack and batted throughout the afternoon session in adding 117 in 39 overs.
Lammonby’s efforts helped seal a fourth successive draw for Somerset.
They resumed on five for one and
Matt Renshaw survived a chance to second slip before he had scored.
Nightwatchman Jake Ball frustrated Worcestershire in the opening hour and also did the bulk of the scoring, with Renshaw content to block.
The second wicket pair added 39 before Adam Finch made the breakthrough, bowling Ball for 29.
Brett D’Oliveira finally accounted for Renshaw, who gave a simple catch to Kashif Ali at short leg, but Lammonby and Umeed saw there was no clatter of wickets. Umeed (60) was caught and bowled by Ben Gibbon, but the sides soon shock hands.
County Championship Division One – Kidderminster: Somerset 309-9 dec (T Banton 92) & 190-4 (T A Lammonby 81 no, A R I Umeed 60), Worcestershire 451-9 dec (G H Roderick 122, J D Libby 97, B L D’Oliveira 66). Worcestershire (15 points) drew with Somerset (12 points).
Gloucestershire’s long wait for a Championship victory on home soil continues as their Division Two match against Middlesex in Bristol petered out into a draw.
On a day which began with all three results possible, Middlesex declared their second innings on 449 for seven, setting the home side a target of 339 to win in 58 overs on a pitch offering little assistance to the bowlers.
The visitors still fancied they had an outside chance of prevailing when reducing their opponents to 102 for three in the final session with 27 overs still available, but Ollie Price, left, displayed resilience in making an unbeaten 52 as the hosts reached 127 for three to frustrate the visitors.
Resuming their second innings on 262 for three, Middlesex had earlier played positively in adding a further 187 in 36 overs, ex-Gloucestershire man Ryan Higgins top-scoring with 155 and sharing in a stand of 202 for the fourth wicket with Max Holden, who contributed 111. Steve Eskinazi’s breezy 65 not out then prompted the declaration, which came half an hour into the afternoon session.
County Championship Division Two – Bristol: Middlesex 203 (M de Lange 6-49) & 449-7 dec (R F Higgins 155, M D E Holden 111, S S Eskinazi 65no) v Gloucestershire 322 (M A H Hammond 81, G L van Buuren 75) & 127-3 (O J Price 52no). Gloucestershire (13 points) drew with Middlesex (11 points).