Match Reports

Somerset v Gloucestershire - (Pre-Season)

Day 2

After Somerset scored 251 for seven on day one of this two-day pre-season match, it was Gloucestershire’s turn to take to the field this morning under a cloudy sky.

Somerset are expecting big things from new signing Marchant de Lange in 2021 and he claimed an early wicket when he bowled Chris Dent for eight with the final ball of the day’s second over to leave the visitors on 10 for one.

Craig Overton thought that he had trapped James Bracey lbw in the following over, but the Gloucestershire man survived a concerted appeal from the majority of those on the field.

Ben Charlesworth faced a similarly vociferous appeal in Overton’s next over, but once again the visiting batsman lived to fight another day.

Charlesworth and Bracey then dug in and took the visitors to 101 in the 28th over. At this point the well deserved second wicket fell as Ned Leonard bowled Charlesworth for 45.

Bracey too was making his way back to the pavilion shortly after for the addition of just two further runs when he was stumped by Steve Davies off the bowling of Roelof van der Merwe. The Somerset ‘keeper taking a sharp chance.

By the time the lunch interval arrived Gloucestershire were 106 for three.

George Hankins and Tom Lace took Gloucestershire to 133 before the former was caught behind by Steve Davies to give Kasey Aldridge a wicket in the 39th over.

Lace was joined by Graeme van Buuren and the fifth wicket pair took the visitors to 150 in the 43rd over before reaching their 50 partnership from 40 balls.

The two batsmen turned the match in Gloucestershire’s favour, but their partnership was eventually broken when Roelof van der Merwe caught van Buuren (26) off the bowling of Craig Overton at 193 for five.

Jack Taylor joined Lace in the middle and they brought the Gloucestershire 200 up from the penultimate ball of the 51st over. Shortly after that, Lace went to his 50 from 80 balls.

By the time the tea interval arrived Gloucestershire were 239 for five.

Tom Lammonby accounted for Lace shortly after the break courtesy of a catch by Eddie Byrom at 255 for six. The Gloucestershire man heading back to the dressing room after making an important 71.

Taylor went to 50 from 80 balls and he and Jack Higgins brought up the 300 for Gloucestershire. The pair shared a half century stand before Taylor retired out on 56 at 305 for seven after 76 overs.

Higgins was joined by George Scott and the two batsmen took the visitors past the 350 mark in the 85th over. At the end of the 91st over Higgins retired out on 72 with the score on 386. Scott was joined by David Payne and they brought up the Gloucestershire 400 in the 93rd over.

Scott went to his 50 from 64 balls and by the time the players shook hands the visitors had reached 420 for eight.

 

Day 1

James Hildreth made a half century as Somerset’s pre-season preparation continued on day one of this two-day match against local rivals Gloucestershire at the Cooper Associates County Ground.

After winning the toss and electing to bat first, it was Eddie Byrom and Ben Green who strode out to the middle in bright but breezy conditions.

The two batsmen played with steady caution, and with an occasional flourish, and had taken Somerset to 39 when Green was trapped lbw by Josh Shaw for 15.

Tom Lammonby joined Byrom at the crease and the two left handers brought up Somerset’s 50 in the 26th over.

By the lunch interval the pair had increased the score to 73 for one, with Lammonby in particular starting to play some eye-catching shots.

The visiting bowlers were in need of a wicket and it duly came with the penultimate ball of the 33rd over. Lammonby was the man to go for 31 when he was caught by Graeme van Buuren to give David Payne the breakthrough. 82 for two soon became 84 for three when Byrom was bowled by Shaw for 37.

George Bartlett and James Hildreth took the score to 99 but the former was caught by Hankins off the bowling of Ryan Higgins for 14.

Somerset’s fifth wicket fell when Steve Davies was caught by Higgins to give Ben Charlesworth a wicket with the hosts on 118 for five.

James Hildreth (45*) and Craig Overton (7*) saw Somerset to tea without any further loss and the players left the field at the end of the second session with Somerset on 159 for five.

29 runs were added after the break before Overton was trapped lbw by Payne for 33. That brought Lewis Goldsworthy to the middle. Shortly afterwards, Hildreth went to his 50. His runs coming from 92 balls in an inning which included 10 fours up to that point.

The two batsmen then brought up Somerset’s 200 which came from the last ball of the 67th over. Unfortunately for the home side, just when he was looking well set for a big score, Hildreth was caught by Hankins off the bowling of Jack Taylor for 56 at 206 for seven.

Goldsworthy and Roelof van der Merwe both looked solid and as play ended for the day under the floodlights at the Cooper Associates County Ground Somerset were 251 for seven.