County Championship 2025. Division 1. Somerset v Worcestershire. 4^th, 5^th, 6^th and 7^th April. Taunton.

Will Smeed was unavailable for selection due to injury.

Somerset.  A.M. Vaughan, S.R. Dickson, T.A. Lammonby, T.B. Abell, T. Banton, J.E.K. Rew (w), L. Gregory (c), K.L. Aldridge, C. Overton, J.H. Davey, M.J. Leach.

Worcestershire. G.H. Roderick (w), J.D. Libby, Kashif Ali, E.A. Brookes, A.J. Hose, B.L. D’Oliveira (c), M.J. Waite, T.A.I. Taylor, B.M.J. Allison, T.I. Hinley, A.W. Finch.

Toss. Somerset. Elected to field.

First day – A day turned on its head

For much of the day there was a wind blowing across the face of the elevated section of the Trescothick Pavilion which caused most to don jackets or anoraks. Then, as is the case in those seats, as the day moved through the afternoon, the sun slowly sank below the western end of the wing roof and progressively warmed the seats as it passed along them from the Gimblett’s Hill end to the Ondaatje end. As the sun made its way along the seats, in the middle, Somerset were busy building an advantage out of a difficult start. In most of the rest of the ground spectators had the benefit of that sun, uncommonly warm in comparison to most previous Aprils, for most of the day. Somerset supporters, and a few Worcestershire ones, rewarded the sun by coming out in numbers, two thousand, perhaps a few more, by my count. It was, that chill start on the north face of the Trescothick Pavilion apart, perfect weather for watching cricket. The crowd was buoyed by it, and by the start of a new season. As a result, the buzz that marks the start of a Championship match had an extra fizz to it. Meeting old friends again, exchanging winter memories, helped fuel the atmosphere too. There were broad smiles all around, and a general sigh of relief that the cricket was back.

That Somerset asked Worcestershire to bat on winning the toss brought a less unanimous response from Somerset supporters, especially as the pitch was brown with, as viewed from the top of the Trescothick Pavilion, no hint of green. “Dry,” someone said, following weeks without appreciable rain. Jack Leach was in the side too suggesting some turn was expected. The outfield, a few light blotches apart, looked in better condition than it had at the start of the two previous seasons when the weather had been less clement. Looking beyond the Lord Ian Botham Stand, the pastel shades of the dying embers of winter rather than the vibrant colours of high spring still lay across the Quantocks, betraying the early start to the season.

Into the arena, buzzing with its new season vibrancy, stepped two of Worcestershire, eleven of Somerset and two umpires, sharply attired as is the modern way. Doubts about Somerset’s decision to insert Worcestershire grew as Craig Overton, running away from the Trescothick Pavilion, bowled three overs in which he drifted repeatedly to leg, while for Worcestershire, Gareth Roderick took advantage with some crisply played leg side strokes including a boundary neatly clipped through fine leg to the Colin Atkinson Pavilion. Worcestershire 22 for 0 after five overs was not the start to a new season the now anxious-looking Somerset supporters had come to see.

Worse followed. Jake Libby, circumspect, and looking vulnerable, particularly to Josh Davey in the early overs, began to find the gaps, a back foot square drive piercing the field on its way to the Caddick Pavilion. A drive off Lewis Gregory, who quickly replaced Craig Overton, scythed through extra cover to Gimblett’s Hill and brought the worried comment, “There’s nothing in the pitch.” Gregory did find the edge of Libby’s bat, but the ball flew wide of the three slips and crossed the Hildreth Stand boundary to take Worcestershire to 49 for 0 at the end of the ninth over. There had been a few beaten bats, but the overriding impression of that opening forty minutes was of the Worcestershire batters establishing themselves and beginning to master the Somerset attack. By the 12^th over, Jack Leach was bowling from the River End, rather earlier most thought than had been planned. Libby, now looking secure, soon met him with the neatest of late cuts which ran to the Trescothick Pavilion boundary.

Then, with a sense of inevitability developing about Worcestershire’s progress, Libby came forward to defend against Leach and edged low to Gregory at slip. Gregory, looking the epitome of calm, took the smoothest of catches. Worcestershire were 70 for 1 with Libby walking off for 30. But it was only the 16^th over, and Worcestershire were progressing at nearly four and a half runs an over. There were cheers for the wicket, but they were cheers of relief, for in early April, 70 for 1 after being inserted was an excellent start by Worcestershire. Gareth Roderick, who had matched Libby run for run, now took control. Leach was reverse swept and then lofted over mid-on, both for four, both in the same over. In Leach’s next over, he was reverse swept again, this time fine enough for the ball to run to the covers store, the pitch being set well towards the Caddick Pavilion. “He got ready for that one,” said the voice from behind me reflecting the pre-ordained nature of the stroke. When Kasey Aldridge replaced Leach, a perfectly cut square drive flew to the Caddick Pavilion to register Roderick’s fifty from 76 balls. An over later, a cut off Aldridge went finer, past fourth slip to the covers store again to take Worcestershire to 101 for 1 in the 26^th over. Worcestershire looked firmly in control, and Somerset, having run through their hand of bowlers, looked short of options.

But now, Overton had the ball in his hand again at the Trescothick Pavilion End, and he and Aldridge proved to be perfect foils. Memories of Overton’s earlier waywardness were banished as he produced a spell of accurate, testing, seam bowling. In a seven over spell he conceded seven runs. At the other end, Aldridge bowled with fire and lift to produce a stunning spell which, although conceding runs, had batters floundering and the crowd gasping and applauding. At the heart of it, two wickets in an over halted the Worcestershire charge. Kashif Ali, who had replaced Libby, had struggled to six in 12 overs. Now, he played back and was, to use the old term, comprehensively bowled. Ethan Brookes was badly beaten by his first ball, tried to keep his second out, but edge it low and straight to Overton at second slip. For Somerset supporters, the anxiety of 70 for 1 had turned into expectant cheering.

The departure of Brookes brought Adam Hose, once of Somerset, to the wicket. He struggled from the start. In his first over, from Overton, he was beaten twice. Applause for the over. In his second, he was badly beaten by Aldridge and suffered a loud leg before wicket appeal. Applause for the over. In his third, he drove Aldridge through the covers for four and was then bowled, perhaps off an inside edge. Huge cheers for the wicket. Worcestershire 110 for 4. Hose 4. Somerset were turning the day and the umpires called lunch. As the players walked off, the crowd buzzed and began walking in their sunlit hundreds around the ground. The cricket was back, and now, after a more than shaky start, were Somerset.

When the players returned to the field for the afternoon, Aldridge had lost nothing of his pre-lunch fire. He angled a ball into Roderick. Roderick, late with his defensive jab, edged it straight to Overton at second slip and Worcestershire were 111 for 5, Roderick 58, with the crowd cheering again. Roderick had already had his early free scoring severely curtailed in that pre-lunch tandem burst from Overton and Aldridge. I saw the fall of his wicket from behind the covers store where my circumnavigations of the ground conclude. I usually watch a few overs from there. It gives a different perspective, and in April a bit of warmth if the sun is in attendance. Despite Aldridge’s predations, Matthew Waite was soon scoring quickly, the ball flowing across the outfield as it came off his bat. He could though find no one to stay with him. Aldridge was driven through cover and then point to the Somerset Stand off successive balls while Davey was turned through midwicket to the same boundary. But Brett D’Oliveira went the way of the rest, bowled for five while shouldering arms to a ball which cut in perfectly and removed both bails without disturbing the stumps, at least so far as could be determined from behind the covers store, and again the crowd was cheering. Worcestershire 130 for 6. D’Oliveira 5. Aldridge 7-2-28-5. Worcestershire had lost five wickets for 28 runs in eight overs and Aldridge had turned the day on its head.

Tom Taylor joined Waite and Waite continued his counterattack. Three boundaries followed, including two in an over from Aldridge, one cut through point, the other guided through backward point. I was back in my seat in the Trescothick Pavilion in time to see Waite cut Gregory square for four and take Worcestershire past 150, still six down, a recovery of sorts. Then, Overton’s now unwavering accuracy paid dividends. Taylor was leg before wicket defending. “That looked out!” someone said among the cheers, and it is a fact that, even from eighty yards away, some leg before wicket decisions just do look out. Worcestershire 151 for 7. Taylor 5.

Taylor’s unleashed a snowstorm of wickets. In Overton’s next over, Ben Allison played the same defensive stroke as Taylor and was bowled. Worcestershire 153 for 8. Allison 1. Two balls after that, Tom Hinley edged Overton low to Aldridge at second slip. Worcestershire 153 for 9. Hinley 0. And finally, Adam Finch was leg before wicket to Gregory for nought. Both Hinley and Finch looked totally discomfited in their fleeting time at the crease, their bats appearing to dangle aimlessly as the ball shot through. In that final phase, Overton had taken three wickets in nine balls. As one wicket had followed another, the Somerset cheers reverberating around the ground became deafening. It had been an astonishing turnaround of events. “They went from 102 for 1 to 154 all out,” said one disbelieving Somerset supporter as the cheers died and were replaced by the buzz of disbelieving chatter.

Ten minutes later, as this whirlwind of a day moved on, Worcestershire had four slips in place as they tried to recover their situation. They began as if they might at least make inroads. Taylor, Trescothick Pavilion End, and Allison, River End, immediately had the Somerset batters on the back foot as Sean Dickson and Archie Vaughan survived three precarious maidens, the ball passing a proffered bat three times. Eventually, a straight drive from Dickson off Taylor rocketed past the stumps and left the chasing fielder helpless before he had run two thirds of the way to the Trescothick Pavilion. “Beautiful, straight drive. Love it!” the comment. When, off successive balls, Archie Vaughan drove Allison through the off side to the Colin Atkinson Pavilion and opened the face to drive him backward of point to the Ondaatje boundary, Somerset reached 20 for 0, and the Worcestershire lead was down to 134.

Somerset were starting to look comfortable, but with the Worcestershire bowlers persisting, within seven overs, they were 39 for 3. Vaughan was caught behind off Taylor defending. Somerset 21 for 1. Vaughan 12. Next, attempting to drive Taylor over the covers, Tom Lammonby was caught by Brookes reaching over his head. Somerset 33 for 2. Lammonby 8. Lammonby’s eight runs had come from two classical drives off Taylor, one straight and one just to the on side to Gimblett’s Hill. The drive from which he was dismissed was just as classical, Lammonby’s stroke play as elegant in failure as in success. Next, Dickson was bowled trying to whip the ball through the leg side. Somerset 39 for 3. Dickson 11. Despite the method of his dismissal, Dickson had battled for one minute under an hour for his 11 runs, but Somerset still trailed by 115. Tom Banton, undeterred, leaned into his first ball and drove it through the on side to the Garner Gates for four, from where he and Tom Abell hurried Somerset to tea at nearly a run a ball, reaching 53 for 3 before the players walked off.

After tea, Abell and Banton attacked from the start, the ball repeatedly racing to the boundary. Amid the free-flowing boundaries, Abell scored five threes in the first hour, pushed, guided or struck hard then flicked back from the boundary by a pursuing fielder. With Banton there was no doubt about the destiny of the ball. When he struck it past a fielder it reached the boundary. There were three stunning on drives to the Ondaatje Stand in the first five overs, one being greeted with, “Shot!” another simply with awestruck gasps. Two more were steered like rockets past the slips, perhaps with a hint of edge. It was a glorious hour if you were a Somerset supporter. Glorious batting under a glorious sun shining with all the splendour of its spring freshness. Waite was tried from the Trescothick Pavilion End, but after Abell drove him through the on side to the Somerset Stand and through the covers to the Caddick Pavilion he was replaced by Allison. Allison fared little better, suffering a straight drive for four from Banton and one through the covers from Abell. Both batters repeatedly used the open face to advantage, Banton guiding one ball from Taylor with the neatest of pushes past the slips to the Hildreth Stand. Amid the boundaries and the threes there were repeated, well-placed singles. Banton reached his fifty from 64 balls with a four off Finch steered past the slips to the covers store. Abell reached his fifty off 73 balls with a four off Finch steered through backward point to the Ondaatje boundary. In the stands, the Somerset crowd was a picture of smiles, applause and cheers. No Somerset winter dream of the first day back at the County Ground could have matched Aldridge’s and Overton’s bowling and Abell and Banton’s batting.

Abell and Banton were not only playing with freedom, their innings were as risk-free as batting can be. In that hour after tea, my notes show the bat being beaten only once. And then, with no end to the mayhem in sight, Abell chipped a straightforward catch off Finch to Taylor at midwicket. Abell looked distraught, leaning low, supported by his bat, with his head hung towards his knees. There had been no indication that a wicket might fall, and Abell walked off looking as disbelieving as the crowd who sat in stunned silence. And then, slowly at first, the applause for Abell picked up before following him towards the Pavilion. With Banton, he had added 101 for the fourth wicket. It was a partnership which had taken Somerset from a shaky 39 for 3 with the match in the balance to a solid 140 for 4, just 14 behind Worcestershire with a base from which to build a substantial lead.

James Rew to the wicket while Banton, now on 54, pushed on. Finch was hooked fine to the Gimblett’s Hill boundary and pulled with a whip of the bat through midwicket. As the ball flew to the Somerset Stand the two slips stood motionless, one with his arms crossed, the other with one hand raised to touch his lip, the pair an apparent picture of helplessness in the face of Somerset’s assault. D’Oliveira put himself on at the River End. “Come on, Dolly,” one Worcestershire supporter shouted, but it availed Worcestershire nothing beyond a slight slowing of the scoring rate. D’Oliveira’s three overs cost 13 runs, 12 coming from his last two. He replaced himself with the slow left arm spin of Hinley who, falling back on deep defence, bowled with four fielders on the boundary. At the other end, Brookes, 11 runs conceded from three overs, was replaced by Waite. He and Hinley bowled to the close, conceding 15 runs in four overs. In the three quarters of an hour after the loss of Abell, Banton had found the boundary six times and Rew twice. In that time Somerset added a further 47 runs, Banton reaching 84, leaving Somerset 33 runs ahead of Worcestershire and, at the end of the first day of the season, astride the match.

Close. Worcestershire 154 (G.H. Roderick 58, K.L. Aldridge 5-36, C. Overton 3-24). Somerset 187 for 4. Somerset lead by 33 runs with six first innings wickets standing.