Somerset humbled yet again

LANCASHIRE kept their flickering LV=County Championship title hopes alive by completing a ten-wicket thrashing of dismal Somerset before lunch on the third day at Taunton, writes Richard Latham.

The home side could add only 88 to their overnight second innings score of 226 for four before being bowled out for 314, a lead of only 31 runs.

There were two wickets each for Tom Bailey, George Balderson and Jack Blatherwick, while Luke Wells, who had figures of three for eight on day two, was not required to bowl.

Lancashire openers George Balderson and Alex Davies took six overs to knock off the required runs and the morning session was extended slightly for the match to be completed.

James Hildreth had added only four to his overnight score of 22 when playing one of the ugliest shots of his illustrious career and top-edging a catch to point off Bailey.

Lewis Goldsworthy produced a few defiant blows before departing for 21, pinned lbw by Bailey in the eighth over of the day.

At 248 for six, Somerset still needed 35 to make Lancashire bat again. Roelof van der Merwe produced a classic cover driven boundary off George Balderson to reduce the deficit and it was down to four when the seventh wicket fell.

A savage slash outside off stump by van der Merwe, on 23, off Balderson saw Luke Wells hold a sharp catch at first slip.

Marchant de Lange lasted only two balls before edging Jack Blatherwick to second slip and Somerset’s fate was sealed.

The only remaining question was whether the hosts could avoid a third successive innings defeat, having won the toss in all three games.

Jack Brooks at least ensured that ignominy was avoided, edging Blatherwick through the slips for four.

Steve Davies batted more solidly than most, suggesting he should have gone in higher than number seven in both innings.

But he lost another partner on 301, Brooks being bowled by Balderson for 15.

Davies was left high and dry on 22 not out when last man Ned Leonard was caught behind down the leg side off Blatherwick.

Somerset, who had gone into the second stage of Championship games with high hopes of a first ever title, must now rely on success at Saturday’s Vitality Blast Finals Day to rescue their season.