Somerset beat bears to consolidate lead
Somerset beat Warwickshire (Bears) by 49 runs at Taunton yesterday to consolidate their lead at the top of the County Championship. The hosts began day three needing four more wickets and were frustrated by the Bears’ lower order before wrapping up victory after two hours’ play.
The visitors’ target of 239 proved too much as they were dismissed for 189. Numbers 10 and 11, Liam Norwell and Oliver Hannon-dalby, hung around with Sam Hain, who finished 92 not out in a losing cause for Warwickshire.
Lewis Gregory (4-48) took the matchwinning wicket, Hannon-dalby edging to Craig Overton at gully. Second-placed Yorkshire are not in action this week and, regardless of third-placed Hampshire’s result against Nottinghamshire, Somerset’s third win in four matches this season means they will end this round of fixtures as Division One leaders. Warwickshire have lost all three of their games since returning to the top flight, although they gave Somerset a fright before finally succumbing to defeat. They were still 119 runs short of their target with only two wickets remaining following the losses of Henry Brookes and Captain Jeetan Patel early on the third day.but Norwell lasted 37 balls for his 13, while Hannondalby resisted alongside Hain for more than 17 overs. Somerset: 209 and 164 (Overton 36 n.o, Norwell 7/41) Warwickshire: 135 and 189 (Hain 92 n.o, Gregory 4/48).