Somerset in command at halfway point

SOMERSET can finally see light at the end of the tunnel after their bowlers put them in control on the second day of their County Championship match against Warwickshire at Taunton, writes Richard Latham.

Josh Davey, Craig Overton and Lewis Gregory each claimed two wickets, while Jack Brooks, Tom Abell and Jack Leach all weighed in with one scalp apiece as Warwickshire, replying to the home side’s first-innings 458, reached the close on 197 for nine – still 261 behind and requiring a further 111 to avoid the follow-on.

Sam Hain bucked the trend with a battling innings of 54 and Nathan McAndrew made 47, these two adding 76 for the seventh wicket to frustrate the home side at the County Ground.

Somerset, who have been beaten in their last seven red ball outings, added a further 107 runs to their tally in the morning session, Tom Banton registering a half-century and Davey, Leach, pictured, and Brooks making useful lower-order runs, while Oliver Hannon-Dalby – the pick of Warwickshire’s bowlers – took five for 89 from 31.4 overs.

Somerset’s seam bowlers were therefore given license to express themselves and attacking fields were a constant feature of an afternoon session in which Warwickshire slumped to 92 for six.

Jamie Smith’s maiden double century and a second first-class hundred from Jordan Clark gave Surrey a stranglehold on their Championship match with hosts Gloucestershire in Bristol, writes Andy Stockhausen.

Unbeaten on 111 overnight, Smith had moved to 234 not out, from 430 balls, with 34 fours, by the time his side were finally bowled out for 603 just after tea.

It was a phenomenal effort from the 21-year-old, who was at the crease for nine hours and 28 minutes, sharing a stand of 244 – a record for Surrey’s eighth wicket – with Clark, who made 137 after walking out at 349 for seven.

By the close, Gloucestershire had posted 86 without loss, openers Chris Dent (45 not out) and Marcus Harris (30 not out) producing an array of positive shots in the face of considerable scoreboard pressure.

LV= County Championship Division One – Bristol: Surrey 603 (J L Smith 234 no, J Clark 137, O J D Pope 84 S M Curran 64) v Gloucestershire 86-0.