County Championship 2022. Division 1. Somerset v Northamptonshire. 20^th, 21^st, 22^nd and 23^rd September 2022. Taunton.

Jack Leach was unavailable for selection for this match.

Somerset. T.A. Lammonby, Iman-ul-Haq, T.B. Abell (c), G.A. Bartlett, L. P. Goldsworthy, J.E.K. Rew (w), L. Gregory, C. Overton, K.L. Aldridge, J.H. Davey, Sajid Khan.

Northamptonshire. W.A. Young (c), E.N. Gay, L.A. Proctor, J.J. Cobb, R.I. Keogh, R.S. Vasconcelos (w), S.A. Zaib, T.A.I. Taylor, L.B. Williams, B.W. Sanderson, C. White.

Overnight. Somerset 271 for 4.

Second day. 21^st September – Matches on the move

This was a day in which the eye was on the smartphone, or the ear on the conversations of those with their eyes on smartphones, as well as on the cricket, for the tensions of the relegation zone bubbled through the day. All three matches were on the move. Kent gained the upper hand against Hampshire, Warwickshire’s match with Gloucestershire edged towards the other West Country side, but not decisively, and Somerset pulled ahead of Northamptonshire. By the end of the day Somerset had built on the position they had worked so hard to establish the day before. There was no attempt to accelerate towards a fourth batting point, just steady accumulation towards as large a total as could be mustered, presumably prioritising the drive towards a winning position over the extra bonus point. Some wanted an assault on the extra bonus point, but someone said, “Better 380 all out with three bonus points than 340 all out trying for four.”

Somerset began with two setbacks, the first in the seventh over. Lewis Goldsworthy attempted to push Jack White to the off and edged the ball to Will Young at slip for 22. Just 13 runs had come in those seven overs with James Rew twice edging short of slip, once fortuitously for four off White, prompting the addition of a third slip. Joined by Lewis Gregory, Rew attempted to break out from his ‘they shall not pass’ mode, a pull to deep midwicket being followed by a cut quite deliberately placed between third slip and gully. “That shot is a sign of someone who can really play,” said the cricketer who was spending the day with me. Rew took 11 runs from the over to take Somerset to 302 for 5, a third batting point and a volley of cheers and applause, for every point might count. Two balls later came Northamptonshire’s second strike. Rew out for 32, leg before wicket trying to defend against Tom Taylor. “I thought that would be given,” said the cricketer, “The appeal left little doubt.”

Craig Overton joined Gregory to extended applause and warm cheers from a crowd welcoming him back to Somerset after a long England and injury enforced absence. Gregory launched the partnership with a six off Sanderson into the Trescothick Pavilion. “That’s huge!” someone said as I scanned the sky between Gregory and myself in an act of calculated self-preservation. I never saw the ball but heard it clatter further along the Pavilion. The next ball was driven square to the Somerset Stand. Ten runs in two balls, but from there Somerset settled back into careful accumulation.

It was a strange watch. A partnership between Gregory and Overton consisting primarily of pushed and guided singles in which the ball did not again reach the boundary until its penultimate ball. But, steadily, at two and a half runs an over, they took Somerset forward. Then, with a flash of bat, Overton pulled Rob Keogh’s off spin to the Priory Bridge Road boundary before an attempt to launch the ball into the Tone resulted in Vasconcelos breaking his wicket. Overton had made 13 in one of his more restrained innings and, with Gregory, had taken Somerset to 334 for 7, a total which might challenge Northamptonshire given the bowlers were still receiving some assistance.

Josh Davey has quietly established himself as a competent lower order batter. He added to that reputation here. With Gregory playing at the other end in that determined, accumulative mode at which he is more adept than is sometimes acknowledged, rather than the clean-hitting style for which he is known, they continued to build Somerset’s score at a steady two and a half runs an over. It was not all straightforward, for the Northamptonshire bowlers did not relent. Taylor, bowling from the Trescothick Pavilion End, continued to beat the bat, Gregory once edging him short of slip. Davey, briefly, attacked Keogh with a reverse sweep, fine to the Trescothick Pavilion, and a back foot drive to the Caddick Pavilion before Somerset eased to lunch on 362 for 7, Gregory 27, Davey 19. 

The crowd had grown to around 2,000 and all the main stands were well populated. My circumnavigation was more relaxed than some this year and shorter, for the outfield is now being opened to spectators. It was re-seeded during last winter and it took until well into the season for the new grass to be deemed sufficiently established to accommodate gently meandering feet. It is too a more regulated experience than in the past when, as the players left the field of play, the gates around the boundary were flung open and spectators ambled through, ground staff running a rope around the square as spectators came through the gates. A short announcement would be made just before the players returned and the crowd would quietly disperse itself. Consisting predominantly of people who had been watching cricket for decades, a County Championship crowd is effectively self-regulating.

Unregulated worlds are fast disappearing in the modern age. They still apply at some county grounds, notably The Oval and Edgbaston, opened gates the sole method of inviting people to meander. Southport this year was a shining example of a Championship crowd regulating itself. The regime at Taunton has changed. Spectators were asked to wait ten minutes while the ground staff put small practice cones around the square, were told only to gather at the River End, and only to enter by the Hildreth Stand and Colin Atkinson Pavilion gates, a long walk for those with limited mobility sitting in other parts of the ground.

Once on the outfield it was good to breathe the air around the square, and look closely at the pitch, one of the joys of cricket crowds since the days of Lionel Palairet and Sammy Woods. To feel the hallowed turf under your feet is heavenly. To gather with friends around the wicket ends and stare, if bemusedly, at the pitch and the footmarks is one of the age-old customs of the game. It is part of life for those with county cricket running through their veins. It was a joy, even under regulation. On this day, with a large crowd, the River End of the outfield hummed. People were at the heart of their spiritual home.

In this day and age, scores are readily available on smartphones at any time, but one aspect of the old ways remains, the announcement: “Lunchtime scores from other matches.” Kent had recovered from their overnight 20 for 3 and were over 250 ahead of Hampshire with four wickets standing. Not out of sight, but it meant Hampshire would need the largest score of the match by some way to win. That was not good news for Somerset, for if Kent were to win and Somerset draw, Kent would be neck and neck with Somerset at the start of the final match of the season at Canterbury. The news from Bristol was not good either, Warwickshire were ahead of Gloucestershire, although not by so much. There was much to play for at Taunton.

Standing in the middle you can be seen from all parts of the ground. People wander out to say hello, to ask how you are, to tell you how they are, and to comment on the match, “We have worked ourselves into a good position here,”  the first comment. “Great innings from Abell yesterday,” another. “Anything in the pitch?” the inevitable question. Inscrutability, or as near as I could get to it, the look with which I replied. “Nice to see Bartlett get some runs,” another comment. “He often gets runs when Somerset need them,” my reply. At 72 for 2, when he came to the wicket, Somerset were hardly in pressing circumstances, but it was a moment when, had Northamptonshire struck, the game could have moved their way. His 134-run partnership with Abell may turn out to be one of the more important parts of this match. And then the idyll was broken by the announcement that the players would return in ten minutes and the outfield should be cleared.

Northamptonshire had bowled well all morning, keeping the Somerset batters to their task. After lunch they struck quickly. Somerset lost their last three wickets for 27 runs in less than 11 overs. Gregory was leg before wicket to White in the second over having just lofted the slow left arm of Saif Zaib over wide midwicket to the Garner Gates for four. “White is swinging it out from the hand and cutting it in,” said the text from the online watcher. Gregory had added 32 in an hour and a half of crucial accumulation. Sajid Khan soon followed, caught on the deep square leg boundary by White off Rob Keogh. Aldridge, who had already edged White just short of slip, was caught at mid-on by Josh Cobb, also off Keogh. Davey was left not out on 31 having batted for an hour and a quarter, although his innings had not been devoid of error, one of his boundaries flying furiously over the slips. Somerset ended, in the ascendant, on a carefully constructed 389 with just over half the day remaining.

Northamptonshire began their innings in a hurry, reaching 13 for 0 by the end of the second over. Emilio Gay took ten runs from Gregory’s first over, cutting him through backward point to the Priory Bridge Road boundary and steering him between slip and gully to the Colin Atkinson. “They are not looking in much trouble,” said a voice from the back of the stand. Too soon. Gay pushed defensively at the ever-questioning Davey and edged to Rew. But Gregory continued to suffer. Will Young edged him over the four slips for four, but then drove him through long on. “Another four off Gregory,” said the voice from the back. Ten off the over when two were added for a no ball. Twenty from two Gregory overs. Northamptonshire 26 for 1 after four. Gregory has been carrying an injury. Perhaps opening the bowling, or bowling at all, was too much to ask, for he did not bowl again.

Overton and Davey have been Somerset’s most effective opening partnership this season. Now they gave Somerset a clear advantage. Luke Proctor came forward to Davey and Overton took the catch low to his left at second slip. 26 for 2. Cheers and applause filled the air, a sure sign that Somerset were on their way. Tom Abell welcomed Overton back with four slips and Bartlett at short leg as he replaced Gregory at the Trescothick Pavilion End. A maiden was followed by a searing, lifting second ball of his second over. Cobb hustled back in defence, startled as the ball crashed into his glove and ballooned to Bartlett. 29 for 3. The first ball of Overton’s next over, Keogh attempted to leave. Too late. The ball flew off the inside edge straight to Rew. Northamptonshire 37 for 4, 352 behind, Overton in full flow and the crowd buzzing with delight. “Come on Craig O!” the familiar shout of encouragement as he prepared to bowl to Ricardo Vasconcelos. Vasconcelos survived but, “There was some bounce there,” the comment.

The air was fresh with anticipation, but Kasey Aldridge, replacing Davey, could not sustain the pressure. Four times in four overs he was struck to the boundary, three times by Young. A cover drive to the Caddick Pavilion brought the comment, “Young is making it look too easy,” but still bowling from the other end, Overton was making batting look anything but easy, beating Vasconcelos three times in an over. When he was withdrawn from the attack his figures were 5-3-6-2. Young continued to press, driving Davey, replacing Overton, through the on side and through the covers in the same over and Vasconcelos took Northamptonshire to tea with another boundary driven through the covers off Davey. Young, now on 40, had added 36 with Vasconcelos, who was on seven, but a cold, hard look at Northamptonshire’s 73 for 4, when set against Somerset’s 389, was enough to keep the Somerset buzz on the boil.

At the start of the match, given Somerset’s eight-point advantage over the other two relegation candidates, most supporters I spoke to would have settled for a draw with the prospect of the advantage being doubled, give or take a bonus point or two, should one of the other relegation candidates lose, not an unreasonable hope with Kent playing Hampshire. Now, with eyes on phones, thoughts were turning to the possibility, or perhaps, the need for victory. Kent had surprised everyone by setting Hampshire a target of 378 in a low-scoring match. A Kent victory, if combined with a Warwickshire one, would leave the relegation battle wide open. The match at Bristol was tight with Warwickshire threatening to bowl Gloucestershire out after tea, probably gaining a small lead. The prospect of Somerset, Kent and Warwickshire being in close proximity to each other in the table at the start of the last round of matches was a thought which hung heavily in the air as the players returned to the field.

Somerset soon gained an early post-tea advantage. Young continued to look secure, reverse sweeping Khan’s second ball to the covers store boundary. Vasconcelos looked less settled, and Overton persistently troubled him. Twice the ball flew wide of third slip, once for two and once for four. When he was beaten again, a fourth slip was called up. Again, he edged, this time short of second slip as faces winced at the injustice of the cricketing gods. A cut raced off the middle to the Caddick Pavilion, but when he attempted to defend the next ball, Overton generated pace and lift, the ball flew off the edge, and this time was taken over his head by Rew. Loud cheers from the crowd, which sensed the Northamptonshire batting was creaking under the pressure. Vasconcelos had departed for 17 in a partnership of 58 and Northamptonshire were 95 for 5, still 294 behind. “That has been coming for a while,” said the cricketer.

With the pressure now firmly on Northamptonshire, Overton was withdrawn from the attack after four overs. “Two short spells, I wonder if they are managing his back?” someone said. Overton’s replacement was Aldridge, expensive in his first spell, expensive again now. In his first over, Young lifted him over point with an uppercut and drove him straight to the Trescothick Pavilion, both for four. “He’s still making it look easy,” the comment. With Zaib at the other end, Young farmed the strike with some ease. Another uppercut off Aldridge sailed high over the slips and ran to the Lord Ian Botham Stand. A drive, also off Aldridge, to deep cover, realised only a single but brought the comment, “He’s got so much time.” Only Khan, bowling at two an over from the River End, now kept the overall Northamptonshire scoring rate to four.

Abell held Young back briefly, before he too was driven, once to Gimblett’s Hill and once straight. “If you slightly over pitch to him he will drive you,” said the cricketer. Abell brought back Overton for another four-over spell. In the third over, as Northamptonshire were going through a quieter patch, perhaps with the end of the day in sight, Young played defensively and edged into Abell’s midriff at second slip. It had been an outstanding innings, 85 runs in nearly three hours, and it had kept Northamptonshire in the match, but at 158 for 6, still 231 runs behind.

Those odds lengthened a little when Zaib saw out the day in the company of Taylor who attacked the bowling. Aldridge and Davey were both straight driven for four, “There’s been a lot of over pitching today. A lot of driving for four,” the thoughts of the cricketer. I wondered if it was a sign of the conditions continuing to provide some help and bowlers stretching their length in search of it. After all, five of the six Northamptonshire wickets had been caught in the cordon, a sure sign of movement. Finally, Aldridge was flat batted straight for four, although another off the edge suggested there was still some assistance for the bowlers.

The day ended with Northamptonshire still 205 behind with four wickets standing. Somerset had real hope of a clear lead on first innings, perhaps of enforcing the follow-on. The position in the other two matches was also becoming clearer. Kent had a near-overwhelming advantage over Hampshire. They had taken four Hampshire second innings wickets for 105, leaving Hampshire 273 runs short of a distant 378-run victory target. With two days left and the weather set fair, there was no prospect of a draw. Warwickshire though were at risk of foundering against Gloucestershire having lost five second innings wickets for 58. That was only marginally bolstered by a first innings lead of 19. In a relatively low-scoring match, although the outcome is not certain, there will be a positive result.

Whether Somerset’s position is strong enough to force a win might depend on whether Northamptonshire can avoid the follow-on and if so, how close they get to Somerset’s first innings total. Time might just be an issue too. When the third day of a match begins with the first innings still in progress, the time remaining can very quickly be eaten away. In achieving their mid-table position, Northamptonshire owe much to their ability to draw matches they cannot win. If Kent press home their advantage against Hampshire, and Warwickshire extend their second innings against Gloucestershire, and if Somerset do not beat Northamptonshire their prospects of First Division survival may remain heavily in the balance when they travel to Canterbury.

Close. Somerset 389 (T.B. Abell 111, G.A. Bartlett 62, R.I. Keogh 4-99, C. White 3-84). Northamptonshire 184 for 6. Northamptonshire trail by 205 runs with four first innings wickets standing.