County Championship 2022. Division 1. Somerset v Yorkshire. 19^th, 20^th, 21^st and 22^nd July. Taunton.

Craig Overton was unavailable for selection due to being on international duty. Josh Davey was unavailable due to a hamstring injury and Sonny Baker due to an ongoing back injury.

The author watched this day on the Somerset CCC live stream having tested positive for COVID before setting off for the cricket.

Somerset. M.T. Renshaw, T.A. Lammonby, T.B. Abell (c), G.A. Bartlett, L.P. Goldsworthy, J.E.K. Rew (w), L. Gregory, K.L. Aldridge, M.J. Leach, J.A. Brooks, M. de Lange.

Yorkshire. A. Lyth (c), T. Kohler-Cadmore, G.C.H. Hill, H.C. Brook, J.A. Tattersall (w), D.M. Bess, J.A. Thompson, M.L. Revis, J.W. Shutt, M.J. Waite, S.T. Gabriel.

Overnight. Somerset 424 and 225 for 6. Yorkshire 276. Somerset lead by 373 runs.

Final day 22^nd July – No play. Rain.

The bees had flown, and I was left with the runny nose and cough. Hardly an illness at all. But a second test confirmed the first. It was COVID. No doubt. So, another day in quarantine, sitting in a chair this time. I really was not ill enough to justify laying on a bed, and it is much more comfortable watching cricket in an upright position. The live stream showed heavy cloud, but a clear view of the Quantocks. Then, instead of players coming out, the covers came on. Rain, light at first, came and went. The Quantocks disappeared and reappeared  The figures on the Colin Atkinson scoreboard brightened and dimmed. The covers came off and went back on. The umpires inspected and took refuge in the Caddick Pavilion. The covers came off and went back on again. Hope rose and fell. An early lunch was called. A restart was announced for 25 minutes to three. And then, as the rain continued its Hokey Cokey, the match was abandoned. But a defensive draw at Southport had been followed by a dominant draw at Taunton. Progress for Somerset at least.

Result. Somerset 424 (T.B. Abell 116, L. Gregory 77, G.A. Bartlett 46, D.M. Bess 4-68, M.J. Waite 3-64). and 225 for 6 (G.A. Bartlett 88*, T.A. Lammonby 46, D. M. Bess 3-70). Yorkshire 276 (T. Kohler-Cadmore 100, J.A. Tattersall 43, H.C. Brook 41, K.L. Aldridge 3-23, J.A. Brooks 3-73). Match drawn. Somerset 15 points. Yorkshire 12 points.

Elsewhere in Division 1

Cheltenham. Hampshire 457 (F.S. Organ 118) and 82 for 4. Gloucestershire 201 and 337 f/o (M.A.H. Hammond 169, K.J. Abbott 6-76). Hampshire won by six wickets. Hampshire 23 points. Gloucestershire 2 points. K.J. Abbott completed a hat trick in Gloucestershire’s second innings.

Edgbaston. Kent 165 (O.J. Hannon-Dalby 6-40) and 384 for 9 dec (J.L. Denly 141). Warwickshire 225 (N. Saini 5-72) and 147. Kent won by 177 runs. Kent 19 points. Warwickshire 4 points.

Northampton. Northamptonshire 235 (M.S. Washington Sundar 5-76) and 174 (W.S.A. Williams 5-41). Lancashire 132 (C. White 5-14) and 278 for 6 (J.J. Bohannon 103). Lancashire won by four wickets. Lancashire 19 points. Northamptonshire 4 points.

The Oval. Essex 271 (A.M. Rossington 100, D.J. Worrall 6-56) and 208 (D.J. Worrall 5-66). Surrey 319 (W.G. Jacks 150*) and 162 for 4. Surrey won by six wickets. Surrey 22 points. Essex 5 points.

Division 1 Table

P      Pl       W       L       D      Ded*    Pts

1.    10       6        0        4         0       187           Surrey

2.    10       7        2        1        -2       173           Hampshire

3.    10       4        1        5         0       156           Lancashire

4.      9       4        2        3         0       123           Essex

5.      9       1        2        6        -2       113           Yorkshire

6.    10       2        3        5        -3       109           Kent        

7.      9       1        2        6         0       107           Northamptonshire

8.    10       1        4        5        -1         99           Warwickshire 

9.      9       2        5        2         0         87           Somerset        

10.  10       0        7        3        -3         57           Gloucestershire

*All deducted points were the result of slow over rates.