First innings score sees Somerset lose
A pair of fine centuries from young left-handers Tom Lammonby and Eddie Byrom weren’t enough to help Somerset secure the Bob Willis Trophy at Lord’s last week.
Under tournament rules, in the event of a draw, the side ahead after the first innings would be declared winners. And a masterful 172 from former England skipper Sir Alistair Cook gave Essex the crucial advantage, meaning Tom Abell’s troops had to dismiss their opponents on the final afternoon for victory.
But despite battling until the bitter end they ended up four wickets light meaning the title headed to Chelmsford for the third time in four years.
The first two days were punctuated by the weather and having won the toss Essex skipper Tom Westley invited Somerset to do their worst. The game was just two overs old when Sam Cook removed the in-form Lammonby for a duck and at 94-4 shortly after lunch, the Cidermen were rocking.
Bryom though had other ideas. His first competitive hundred in Somerset colours couldn’t have come at a better time nor on a bigger stage. The southpaw added 127 for the sixth wicket with Craig Overton (66) and went on to register 117 not out of a competitive 301 all out. Cook, a young quick who harbours England ambitions, was the pick of the Essex attack ending with 5-76.
Day three came and Somerset took to the field clad in their cable knit sweaters. Overton and Josh Davey, as they have done so often this season, threatened with the new ball but nothing was doing. A few edges fell short of slip, while Overton bellowed a roar that could be heard back in Taunton when Sir Alistair flashed one past Lammonby at gully early on.
Lewis Gregory’s introduction saw off Nick Browne (8) but from then on Cook senior began to weave his magic. He found support in the form of Westley (51), with the pair adding 170 for the second wicket to put Essex firmly in control.
Cook was imperious. The trademark cuts and pull were present in abundance, and there were also several glorious punches through the covers. It was an innings that would have graced any test match, with a few lucky observers in the press box uttering that they’d rarely seen him play more fluently.
Gregory pulled Somerset back into the contest with a pair of quick wickets before Cook and Essex veteran Ryan ten Doeschate (21) steadied the ship. But as was the case when Somerset batted, the new ball
First Overton saw off ten Doeschate before Gregory ended Cook’s vigil. That was the sixth wicket to fall and spookily meant the sides were neck and neck, Somerset also having been 266-6 24-hours earlier. If the boys from Taunton were to avoid conceding a first innings lead, quick wickets on day four were vital.
But what was expected to be a tense first hour proved a cakewalk for Essex. Helped by a large dollop of extras they surpassed Somerset’s 301 within eight overs. Gregory had five in the innings soon thereafter, a perfect yorker – the delivery of the clash – was too good for nightwatchman Jamie Porter (13). He added a sixth the following over when Simon Harmer departed without troubling the scorers.
After that Adam Wheater (26*) and Aaron Beard (14*) were content to eke out time, Essex finishing on 337-8 - a lead of 36 – when the 120 over maximum was reached.
At that point all results were still possible, but Somerset knew they needed to score at a decent lick to set up a potentially teasing chase.
Lammonby and fellow opener Ben Green got them off to a fine start, putting on 105 for the first wicket, comfortably their side’s highest opening stand in the competition. Having avoided a pair on his Lord’s debut Lammonby in particular was easy on the eye.
Green departed in the 28th over for a well-made 41, including a maximum deposited over midwicket off the tournament’s leading wicket taker Harmer but Lammbox paid immediate dividends. onby was unperturbed. He picked up the pace, taking a trio of consecutive boundaries off Aaron Beard before helping himself to ten off Harmer’s next over, and brought up three figures in just 134 balls.
Wickets around him fell regularly, Porter snared three in quick succession before a Harmer arm ball trapped Lammonby in front of all three. And when Gregory fell to a super diving catch from Cook (Sir Alistair) at slip, 187-3 had became 188-6 and Somerset were wobbling.
However, Overton again proved his prowess with the bat, finishing unbeaten on 45 when Abell called his boys in early on day five to set Essex 237 to win in 80 overs. After his success in the first innings Gregory was introduced early and made an instant impact, removing Browne. When Overton trapped Westley lbw for a duck the following over Somerset had their early wickets.
Dan Lawrence and Cook steadied the ship, helping Essex to reach 61-2 at lunch but shortly afterwards came the big one.
Gregory found Cook’s outside edge and up went the umpire’s finger. The former England skipper stood staring down the track, a look of bemusement on his face, but it mattered little; he was gone having made 203 runs in the game. 74-3 and Somerset sniffed blood. Leach was next to strike, removing Dan Lawrence (35) just as he was finding fluency.
Leach has endured at torrid 12 months and this his first wicket since November 2019. He didn’t have to wait long for a second though, Paul Walter falling for a stoic 21. A wobble was on the cards but ten Doeschate and Wheater were in no mood to wave the white flag, their stubborn rear guard action defusing the contest completely.
By the time ten Doeschate fell to Leach in the penultimate over he’d made 46 from 137 deliveries. Play was finally called off with just three balls remaining and it was left to Westley to lift the trophy.
After the game, Abell said: “Having come so close a number of times we certainly believe we are within touching distance and we certainly feel if we play the brand of cricket we have been playing then we will come out on top.
“As tough as it is to take we need to trust what we are doing. There are plenty of good things to come out of this season; guys have really stepped up to prove how good they really are.
“Over the course of a Championship season the best team will often prevail but with the nature of the competition it does come down to a final game.
“The overwhelming emotion is certainly one of disappointment. We experienced coming second to Essex last season and wanted that not to be the case. When you come second you always look at the what-ifs, but hindsight is a wonderful thing.
“Going into today I felt like we had a great chance of winning the game but it felt like a good contest between two well-matched side throughout the game.
“We knew going into the games the connotations of getting a first innings lead and we didn’t manage to do that.”