Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Matches in the balance
NEITHER Gloucestershire or Somerset could truly build on early momentum on the first day of the second round of County Championship action.
Having experienced a total washout at Derbyshire in their opening game, the Glo’sters wasted no time in getting into the swing of things against visiting Yorkshire in Bristol.
The White Rose county were reduced to 25 for three and 90 for five in the Division Two contest with Zaman Akhter taking three of those wickets.
However, Shan Masood stepped up for Yorkshire, making a terrific 140 which, with good support from Jonny Tattershall (58) and Matt Milnes (51) turned the tide considerably.
When Masood eventually departed, caught behind by James Bracey off Marchant de Lange, he had taken his side to 285 for seven.
Akhter eventually finished with figures of five for 89 from 18.3 overs as Yorkshire were finished off for 326. The hosts lost Chris Dent and Ollie Price in reply to go to stumps at 28 for two.
Somerset, meanwhile, batted first at Surrey, reaching 196 for one as, after the early departure of Sean Dickson for ten, Matt Renshaw and Tom Lammonby got stuck in to the hosts’ bowling.
However, the pair were then out in quick succession, Renshaw for 87 and Lammonby exactly 100, and Somerset promptly slumped to 216 for eight.
Skipper Lewis Gregory prevented a total collapse, though, making 50 from 79 balls while well-supported by new signing Migael Pretorius and England man Shoaib Bashir, who made 12 and ten respectively.
They were ultimately all out for 285, with Surrey then making a decent start in response. Former England openers Rory Burns and Dom Sibley were not out on 13 and 29 respectively as they closed on 42 without loss.