County Championship 2022. Division 1. Somerset v Gloucestershire. 5^th, 6^th, 7^th and 8^th September. Taunton.

Craig Overton and Jack Leach were unavailable for selection for this match due to being on international duty. James Hildreth had retired from professional cricket. Matthew Renshaw and Peter Siddle were no longer available as overseas players and were replaced by Imam-ul-Haq and Sajid Khan.

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

Gloucestershire. B.G. Charlesworth, M.S. Harris, O.J. Price, M.A.H. Hammond, J.R. Bracey (w), G.L. van Buuren (c), J.M.R. Taylor, T.J. Price, J. Shaw, D.A. Payne, A.S. Dale. 

Overnight. Gloucestershire 320 for 6.

Second day – Somerset hold on – just

It was a day to sit in the top of the Trescothick Pavilion. Rain. Overnight and in the morning. The bane of the cricket watcher’s life, and if the forecast is to be believed, of this match. It took 45 minutes off the start of the second day, although only four overs were deducted because of the promise of an extra half hour at the end of the day. It is September though, and there is always a good chance that cloud, or even the early setting sun, will rob the match of at least some of its extra time. By the start, the sun was shining brightly despite swathes of rough white cloud which, as so often in such conditions, rarely seemed to hinder it. It was a sky to lift the spirit after the rain, although a glance at the unforgiving scoreboard was liable to deflate them again. Gloucestershire were in the ascendancy. Most in the ground on the second morning would have expected them to comfortably pass 350 from their overnight position, although the wicket of Marcus Harris late on the previous evening, conjured from a typically unexpected lifter from Jack Brooks, had removed Gloucestershire’s main threat.  

Somerset turned to Lewis Gregory who promptly bowl a spell to spite the scoreboard. With the third ball of his second over, bowled from the Trescothick Pavilion End, he beat Tom Price with a quicker ball. Gasps. His fourth ball was pitched full and a foot or more wide of off stump. Price drove hard towards the covers and James Rew behind the stumps took a sharp catch diving to his right. Gloucestershire 328 for 7. Price 8. David Payne took guard and tried to drive his first ball through mid-on, got in a tangle, and lifted it towards wide mid-on. At mid-on, Brooks, and his 38 year-old legs, ran towards the line of the ball and, in a controlled fall to his right, took the catch. 328 for 8. There was the usual frisson of anticipation and an extra slip for the hat-trick ball, but as with most hat-trick balls it yielded no result. It was a better hat-trick ball than many. It passed close to the off stump, Josh Shaw left it, but the stumps remained intact.

Somerset continued to press. Jack Taylor, who had counterattacked on the previous evening after a clatter of wickets, stood firm-footed to drive Josh Davey. The ball came off the middle, although not with the force Taylor might have wished, flew straight back to Davey who caught it shin high. Ten runs added since the start. Three wickets taken. 330 for 9. Taylor 20. Although Shaw twice struck Davey to the boundary, Gregory, pitching full, soon struck Ajeet Dale on the pads and the raised finger ended the Gloucestershire innings on 343. “That’s the best I’ve seen Gregory bowl for a long time,” said the incoming text. It was though a morning which brought the value of the runs Gloucestershire had scored before tea on the first day into sharp relief. Somerset had just scythed through the Gloucestershire lower order, taking the final four wickets for 23 runs in six overs, but of Gloucestershire’s 343 runs, 251 had been scored on the first day before the loss of the second wicket.

When Somerset’s left-handed opening pair, Tom Lammonby and Imam-ul-Haq, emerged from the Caddick Pavilion, little more than half an hour remained on the Colin Atkinson clock before lunch. In that time Somerset lost two wickets and found themselves dining on the prospect of a tough afternoon. The innings, almost as if it were a continuation of the end of the Gloucestershire innings, began frenetically with Lammonby in an almighty tangle from which he never emerged. His first ball, from the left-arm pace of Payne, lifted, and forced a frantic thick edge wide of fourth slip towards the Colin Atkinson Pavilion for two. Payne’s second ball, wide and short, was cut to the Priory Bridge Road boundary for four. It was middled and kept down but played a long way from the body. Payne’s fifth ball, Lammonby attempted to defend, and edged it waist high to third slip. There was a collective intake of breath before relieved chatter as the ball fell to earth. But there was to be no reprieve. The final ball, Lammonby fenced at, the edge was thinner, and Bracey took the catch. Somerset 6 for 1.

Imam scored his first runs for Somerset with a glance to the Trescothick Pavilion boundary off Dale. The striking thing about the stroke was the amount of time Imam had to play it, the bat waiting patiently for the arrival of the ball before deflecting it neatly past the keeper. A clip off the legs off Payne to the Somerset Stand was played with as much time and accuracy, the ball just defeating the fielder who signalled his foot had touched the rope. Tom Abell, as established at three as any Somerset player has been for some time, attempted to steer Dale beyond the slips but edged the ball high towards second slip where Oliver Price took the catch falling to his right. Somerset 17 for 2, and those 251 Gloucestershire runs scored before the fall of their second wicket began to assume worrying proportions. George Bartlett joined Imam and between them they kept Gloucestershire out until lunch. Bartlett played positively from the outset as he is inclined to do, scoring his first 11 runs from 16 balls including a back foot drive for four through point to the Somerset Stand. Somerset lunched on 34 for 2, 309 behind Gloucestershire. It was a pensive lunch for Somerset supporters.

The afternoon began brightly enough from a Somerset perspective, in the sky and on the pitch. Off the second ball, Bartlett continued his positive start and drove Payne through the covers to the Somerset Stand boundary. It was a scintillating stroke and brought applause to match. When Imam produced an equally flowing drive in the next over against Dale, again the ball crossed the rope in front of the Somerset Stand. When he cut Shaw square, someone said, “Shot!” with not a little awe in their voice. When he drove Payne straight of mid-off to the Trescothick Pavilion someone said, “That was a good shot. Classical,” and it was a joy to applaud such power arising from such ease of stroke.

A cover drive from Bartlett off Tom Price to the Somerset Stand boundary was as impressive and brought another cry of, “Shot!”. It was immediately followed by a two driven into the on side to bring up the fifty partnership to more applause. A thick edge, safe enough, from a drive flew between gully and backward point to the boundary and took Somerset into the 70s. The deficit was still over 270, but the quality and ease of strokes settled nerves and brought hope of a competitive score. Then, with the impact of a thunderbolt descending from a clear blue sky, Bartlett left a ball from Tom Price. It sent his off stump cartwheeling. “Oh no!” the instant comment. “He was playing so well.” The ball had looked straight, confirmed by the cricketer watching online, “That was well pitched up. It barely moved back an inch.” Somerset 74 for 3. Bartlett 33. Deficit 269.

Lewis Goldsworthy joined Imam and was soon on the attack, turning Price into the onside to the Somerset Stand for four, and cutting him there when Price changed ends. “Goldsworthy has a lot more confidence now,” someone said, “The turning point was Stockport.” They are the sort of words that escape the lips before the speaker has the chance to stop them. The concept of the commentator’s curse applies equally well to supporters. It is not the done thing to praise a batter of your own side while he is at the crease for fear of causing batting catastrophe. It is a superstition of course, and as such has no validity. That matters not. No-one deliberately takes the risk, although momentary lapses are not uncommon. Four balls later, Goldsworthy attempted to flick Price to leg and was caught by Bracey diving sharply to his left. It was an outstanding catch, well wide of the wicket. I doubt that made the deliverer of the curse feel any better, especially when he looked at the scoreboard. Somerset 87 for 4. Goldsworthy 10. Gloucestershire’s lead was 256, with no doubt, a knowing nod from W.G.

Now, Somerset dug in. In nine overs, Imam and Rew scored 14 runs, all in singles, mostly played softly into gaps or to deep fielders, one or two thick edges apart. Then, the foundation laid, Imam pushed Somerset’s case. Shaw, bowling from the Trescothick Pavilion End, was clipped off his toes through midwicket to the Somerset Stand. “Lovely shot!” someone drooled. A lofted off drive, wide of mid-off, off Graeme van Buuren’s slow left arm reached the River Stand boundary and a lofted cover drive off Shaw just defeated the cover fielder. “Did he get a hand to that?” someone asked. “He took a long time to get up,” the reply. The ball only just crossed the rope too. A narrow escape perhaps. The next drive, through the covers off Shaw, left no doubt. “Shot!” someone said emphatically as the ball crossed the Caddick Pavilion rope.

Somerset, or at least Imam, were advancing again. At tea they were 135 for 4. Imam had reached 71 with an innings described by more than one person I spoke to in the interval as, “Quality.” His partnership with Rew had reached 48 of which Rew, focused on keeping the ball out, had scored 10 in the 18 overs he had been at the crease. “Rew doesn’t look the slightest bit bothered about playing second fiddle,” someone said. “Excellent!” the reply. It had been a desperately needed partnership for Somerset. Not yet enough, Gloucestershire still led by 208, but it had provided some relief after the loss of those four early wickets.

By the time the players returned from tea, the wind was gusting across the face of the Trescothick Pavilion and clouds were gathering. Imam and Rew though continued much as they had before the interval, Imam gathering more runs, Rew pushing his pad and bat down the wicket. Someone mused that he might have the makings of an opening bat. He might, but mixing opening the batting and keeping wicket day in day out in first-class cricket is an awful lot to ask. Few do it. Fewer sustain it. Meanwhile, Imam brought up the fifty partnership with a late cut, another stroke to savour, off Tom Price to Gimblett’s Hill. A square cut off Payne ran to the Priory Bridge Road boundary. With the lead down to 197, six wickets standing, Rew solid and Imam wielding the bat like a maestro’s baton, umbrellas went up and the players scurried for the Pavilion.

A cricket ground is a miserable place in the rain. There is a feeling of damp in the air, even if, like me in the top of the Trescothick Pavilion, you are under cover. Eyes, those that remain in the stands, focus on a player-less middle. Ground staff stand motionless waiting for the rain to stop, or for an instruction from the umpires. Umpires come under criticism if they do not emerge to inspect as the last raindrop hits the ground. Ground staff are under criticism for not mopping up sooner. Umpires fall under further criticism for not allowing a restart when club cricketers would long ago have been playing. And the light is rarely deemed dark enough from the stands to keep the players off. Spectators are hungry for the cricket they are missing and patience is in short supply. Who would be an umpire at such a time?

This time, the rain did not tarry long. The players were back within half an hour. Gloucestershire immediately attacked with three slips and a gully. Imam, his concentration perhaps disturbed by the break, edged Tom Price along the ground and past first slip to the Trescothick Pavilion boundary. A Yorkshire voice, 200 miles out of place, commented, “That were a bit sketchy. Not up to his standard.” In Price’s next over, Imam edged again, this time to the keeper and he departed for 90. “Imam is class,” said the text from the online cricketer. He was applauded all the way to the Caddick Pavilion. He had stood out above the rest. His 90 had come from 157 for 5 and he had batted nearly three and a half hours.

Perhaps the rain had affected the behaviour of the ball, for when Lewis Gregory defended his third ball from Tom Price, it cut in off the pitch, Gregory misjudged and edged it straight into the hands of Oliver Price at second slip. Suddenly, from the gradually improving position crafted by Imam and Rew, Somerset were 157 for 6, 186 behind with the follow-on threatening. Gregory was replaced by Aldridge, perhaps batting a place or so too high at eight. At least, he is yet to establish his credentials there. With four runs to his name, he attempted a back foot drive off Shaw, lost his off stump and Somerset’s situation deteriorated further. 163 for 7. 180 behind.

Davey, who has established himself as a solid number nine, again looked confident as he guided Dale beyond the slips to the Garner Gates boundary. Then, again facing Dale, he played and missed before attempting a straight drive and was caught by Bracey for eight. Perhaps reviewing his shot selection, he practiced a straight, defensive bat as he walked off. “He’s bowling quick,” someone commented of Dale. Sajid Khan was met with warm applause, perhaps following his long defensive bowling stint. But Somerset were 179 for 8, still 164 behind, and the crowd who had been engrossed in the Imam/Rew partnership were now engaged in a tense, hushed chatter at the prospect of following on.

Rew though was still there, 18 not out after 38 overs of dogged, more than dogged, straight-batted defence. He had scored four runs in his first ten overs, all singles. There had not been a single boundary in his 38 overs. And his glue-like adherence to the crease, with a personal score seemingly set in aspic, seemed to trouble him not one iota. Somerset needed an adhesive batter at one end, and he seemed content to meet the need. With only two wickets standing, the need changed. Fifteen were needed to avoid the follow-on. ‘Getting them in singles’ is the historic, if perhaps apocryphal way. Rew, after those 38 overs of getting them in singles ignored history. With the long, crisp shadows of the players reaching square across the pitch, he clipped Shaw behind square to the Ondaatje boundary. Eleven needed. The tense chatter became more of a hush. With the possibility of rain about over the final two days the follow-on could be crucial if Gloucestershire were to try to force a win.

With seven needed, the tension began to boil up into anticipation that avoiding the follow-on was within touching distance. With Dale running in from the Trescothick Pavilion End, Khan sliced through what remained of the tension with an on drive which brought cheers as it came off the bat. Cheers which grew into cries of encouragement as Khan and Rew ran hard for three. Four needed. It was not the most classical of boundaries, but Rew’s edge off Dale through the slips to where the Colin Atkinson Pavilion meets the Lord Ian Botham Stand brought an explosion of cheers, and relief, from the crowd.

From there, the immediate tension dispersed, Rew and Khan calmly took Somerset to the close on 209 for 8, Khan playing a ball from Tom Price down and between third slip and gully for four to the Trescothick Pavilion along the way. It left Somerset 134 adrift, with Rew on 35 and Khan on 12. Gloucestershire remain in a good position with two days remaining, and should the weather hold, to attempt the win they need if they are to retain any realistic prospect of avoiding relegation. As those two days unfold, if the forecast is to be believed, eyes may be cast as much on the cockerel on top of St James as on the scoreboard which sits beneath it.

Close. Gloucestershire 343 (M.S. Harris 159, B.G. Charlesworth 56, O.J. Price 52, L. Gregory 4-62, J.H. Davey 3-80). Somerset 209 for 8. Somerset trail by 134 runs with two first innings wickets in hand.