County Championship 2025. Division 1. Somerset v Hampshire 15^th, 16^th, 17^th and 18^th September. Taunton.

Somerset. T. Kohler-Cadmore, A.M. Vaughan, T.A. Lammonby, J.E.K. Rew (w), T.B. Abell, L.P. Goldsworthy, K.L. Aldridge, B.G.F Green, C. Overton, L. Gregory ©, M.J. Leach.

Hampshire. A.G.H. Orr, F.S. Middleton, N.R.T. Gubbins, T.E. Albert, B.C. Brown ©, (w), M.S. Washington Sundar, F.S. Organ, J.K. Fuller, K.J. Abbott, K.H.D. Barker, E.V. Jack.

Overnight. Somerset 381 for 7.

Third day – Procession

Kasey Aldridge turned the first ball of the day, from Keith Barker just behind square for the single that took him to 150. Archie Vaughan turned the last ball of the day, forcing Ali Orr onto the back foot, passed the outside edge of his defensive bat, hit him on the back leg and Hampshire were 35 for 1 in their second innings having followed on 282 runs behind. Between the two, there were two starkly contrasting spectacles. First, another forty minutes of dominant Somerset batting, 73 runs coming from 10 overs bowled by four different bowlers including one from Washington Sundar, Hampshire’s Indian Test off spinner from which Craig Overton took 16 runs and Aldridge one. Secondly, a stunning bowling display from Jack Leach and Archie Vaughan combined with some electric Somerset fielding which saw Hampshire reduced to 172 all out.

There were times at the top of the Trescothick Pavilion when virtually everyone went quiet whenever a ball was bowled and let forth a veritable wall of cheers when a wicket went down. The match wasn’t balanced on a knife edge, but Somerset’s prospects of winning it were, and the distant prospect of a Championship hung in the air. Throughout the Hampshire innings, the unrelenting nature of the bowling and the electric energy of the Somerset fielding fired the crowd into making rather more noise than its relatively small size suggested it should. And the Hampshire batting wilted like a cut flower under a desert sun.

In the remains of the Somerset innings, it was the Hampshire bowlers who suffered the heat as Aldridge and Overton tore into them. There were some missed drives, a thick edge or two and some signs of movement to give the Somerset bowlers hope, but the lasting impression of those ten overs was of the ball racing across the outfield to the boundary. During those ten overs, Overton clipped Kyle Abbott off his toes to the Caddick Pavilion dugouts, then Aldridge drove Keith Barker there despite a fielder being posted at deep point. There was a cover drive from Overton off Abbott to the long Somerset Stand boundary which registered the fifty partnership from 56 balls in 38 minutes. Aldridge cut James Fuller through backward point to the Ondaatje boundary for four and uppercut him over it and into the seats in the stand behind for six. Sundar wasn’t spared. He suffered two fours and a six in an over from Overton, the six flying over deep cover and the Priory Bridge Road boundary.

As the ball flew, the century partnership was reached from 90 balls in 63 minutes, the second fifty having come in 25 minutes, with a single gently driven to mid-off by Overton off Sundar. Almost immediately, Overton’s fifty came with another single, turned to the fielder at deep square leg off Abbott. It had taken 42 balls and six minutes over an hour. And then a drive straight of mid-off from Aldridge, a quick sprint up the wicket, a lightning interception from Nick Gubbins, the mid-off fielder, and a direct hit on the non-strikers’ stumps. Aldridge gave the run up when three or four yards short. Somerset 454 for 8, Aldridge 180, Overton 50 not out and the declaration effectively announced to the crowd by Overton following Aldridge off. Aldridge raised his bat to the crowd in acknowledgement of the applause which followed him to the Pavilion and, as he approached the steps to the dressing rooms, he held his hand up in a quiet goodbye wave. The morning rush for runs had netted Somerset the maximum five batting points and just kept their fingertips in touch with their Championship dream.

The innings of a side, when wickets fall quickly, is sometimes described as a procession. It is a description which perfectly fitted the Hampshire first innings as one batter after another was seen either walking to the crease or walking back to the Caddick Pavilion. They did so at as regular a set of intervals as you are likely to see in a first-class cricket match. They began about three quarters of an hour after the start and ended when the last pair walked off, the fall of the tenth wicket triggering the tea interval. The number of runs in each partnership was as follows: 13, 14, 3, 28, 34, 10, 26, 26, 18, 0, and the highest score by a Hampshire batter was Toby Albert’s 29, with eight of the eleven batters reaching double figures and none going on.

Ali Orr began the procession, bowled by Jack Leach for eight with Hampshire 12 for 1, still 442 in arrears. “More!” someone shouted like someone calling for an encore at a folk concert. The ball had pitched full and a foot or so outside off stump. The left-handed Orr had come forward to defend, the ball turned and bowled him off the inside edge, the edge making the turn look more pronounced than a replay suggests it was. Nick Gubbins joined Fletcha Middleton and tried to attack Leach with a pair of reverse sweeps. The ball was nicely played well wide of Overton, the only slip, and defeated the backward point fielder as it ran too fine for his dive before crossing the boundary in front of Gimblett’s Hill. The second, not played as fine and in the air, went straight into the hands of Archie Vaughan at backward point. Hampshire 27 for 2. Gubbins 5. Deficit 427.

Middleton, who had looked for his runs in front of the wicket, had found the boundary twice but now, defending, he became Leach’s third victim. A right-hander, he came forward to defend against a full ball. It pitched on middle, turned, and would have hit off had his bat not deflected it into James Rew’s waiting gloves. It was a beautifully directed ball and a clinically taken catch. Hampshire 30 for 3. Middleton 14. Deficit 424. At the end of the over, Leach’s figures were 4-2-7-3. An expectant, quiet had spread across ground, and the tension in the air was intense and palpable, except when gasps accompanied a beaten bat, or a wicket caused a roar to rent the air. Somerset were pushing a struggling Hampshire for a win. Leach, who had been bowling since the sixth over of the innings, was bowling like a dream, while those faint hopes of the Championship hung like the fading remnants of a disappearing aurora borealis as the Surrey v Nottinghamshire match moved towards a positive conclusion at The Oval. The tension was added to, eyes turning to the sky, when the floodlights came on shortly after the departure of Middleton.

Briefly, Toby Albert and Ben Brown attempted to rescue the Hampshire innings. Albert attempted to attack. Vaughan, who had joined Leach from the Trescothick Pavilion End in the ninth over, was driven through the covers off the back foot. There was no apparent effort in the stroke, and it ran effortlessly to the long boundary in front of the Somerset Stand. In Vaughan’s next over, Albert pulled him in front of square and over the Ondaatje boundary for six. Twice. The first cleared the Stand and went straight through the open door behind one of the balconies of the Pavilion behind from whence someone emerged with the ball and threw it back as if it had interrupted something more important than a mere cricket match. The second landed in the third row of seating in the stand. A four driven through the off side to Gimblett’s Hill followed. There was a two as well and, finally, a single guided past slip to enable Albert to retain the strike. But, in his next over, Vaughan settled Albert’s account. Albert attempted to hit a near-yorker length delivery back over Vaughan’s head, mistimed, and Vaughan took the catch in front of his left shoulder. There was a tense wait while the umpires conferred about a possible bump ball, but Albert had to go. Hampshire 58 for 4. Albert 29 from 27 balls in 31 minutes. Deficit 396.

Lunch was taken two overs later with Hampshire on 61 for 4. Sundar had joined Brown and edged his sixth ball, from Leach, low towards Overton at slip. The ball went to ground. Whether Overton had missed a chance wasn’t clear from the elevated section of the Trescothick Pavilion, but heads went back at Sundar’s escape whether through a chance going down or the ball not quite carrying. But four wickets for 61 in the face of 454 meant there was an air of optimism at the prospect of Somerset winning as I undertook my lunchtime circumnavigation. There was anxiety too at the impending Cricket Discipline Panel decision on the pitch for the Durham match with most fearing a points deduction. On a note of comfort, someone commented, “It’s much warmer today.”

There was resistance after lunch from Brown and Sundar before the procession of batters began again. Sundar, one of five left-handers in the Hampshire side and the third in the top six, began with a four lofted off Leach which crossed the long on boundary in front of the Colin Atkinson Pavilion. Then, some retrenchment. Six runs came in the next seven overs with Leach ending the seventh with figures of 12-7-15-3. Hampshire were under constant pressure from the Somerset spinners. Sundar was beaten by a ball from Vaughan which clearly turned. Brown left a ball from Leach which didn’t turn and squeezed past the stumps by a hairsbreadth causing an audible intake of breath from spectators, perhaps Leach’s arm ball. The duel between batters and spinners, beloved of Championship watchers seventy years before, was intense and the focus on it of the eyes of the crowd of about five hundred was as intense as the batting.  

Then, Brown attempted a breakout. He clipped a ball from Vaughan through midwicket to the point where the Caddick Pavilion and Ondaatje Stand meet, drove Lewis Goldsworthy, bowling an over to enable Leach and Vaughan to change ends, through extra cover and pulled Vaughan through midwicket to the Somerset Stand for four more. But when he stepped away to leg and attempted to cut Vaughan he was bowled. The wicket broke the tension which had been gripping the ground as the partnership developed and the huge cheer which erupted when it was broken reflected the relief of Somerset supporters that Hampshire had not gained a foothold. Upon which, once the cheers had subsided there was some advice for Brown from the elevated section of the Trescothick Pavilion, “Never cut the off spinner,” although the speaker might have added, “If you are a right-hander.” Brown may have been of a similar mind, for he was clearly furious with himself. Hampshire 92 for 5. Brown 21 from 78 balls, an indication of the intensity of the cricket before he struck those three fours in the final 21 balls of his innings. Hampshire deficit 362.

And so, the two-way procession of Hampshire batters began again. As Brown walked off, Felix Organ walked on. Seven overs and ten runs later, Sundar walked off, bowled by Leach, and James Fuller walked on. Organ had already been badly beaten by Leach. Even from over mid-on with Leach bowling from the Trescothick Pavilion End, the inward swerve and biting spin of the ball was obvious. “What a ball!” one startled watcher said. Organ was beaten again by Vaughan and then Leach forced an edge past second slip from Sundar. But, somehow, Organ fought on. Between balls, the crowd buzzed. As the ball was bowled, the silence was as solid as wall. With rain spreading along the Quantocks, Organ again edged Vaughan, this time along the ground to slip. As every ball was bowled, you could feel the force of the tension rising in your chest. Until, finally, an edge counted. Sundar came well forward to Leach and was bowled off the inside edge by a ball which straightened. “Pretty well unplayable,” the comment from the online watcher. Hampshire 102 for 6. Sundar 23. Leach 17.2-8-25-4.

Now, James Fuller. Hampshire had batted 40 overs for their 102 runs. Fuller tried to turn the tables with an all-out assault. He treated his first ball, from Leach, to a full-blooded pull. It struck Tom Abell on the helmet as he fielded at short leg. It looked a sickening blow and Abell was forced to leave the field. Off the first ball of the next over, from Vaughan, Fuller repeated the stroke. This time the short leg fielder ducked and the ball crossed the boundary in front of the Somerset Stand. Two balls later, he cut Vaughan through backward point to the Ondaatje Stand. Two more fours followed in the next over, one from a top edge off Leach which cleared the keeper. Then, off Vaughan, a back foot extra cover drive to the Priory Bridge Road Stand. With Leach still bowling from the Trescothick Pavilion End, three fielders were placed along the length of the Priory Bridge Road Stand from deep square leg to long leg. Fuller decided to take them on. He slog-swept. And missed. A rap on the pads brought a huge appeal, a raised finger and then, a truly colossal cheer belying the small size of the crowd. As the cheer subsided, someone said, “Well done, Leachy!” Hampshire 128 for 7. Fuller 24 from 17 balls in 17 minutes. Deficit 326.

Now, Keith Barker, Hampshire’s fourth left-hander, joined the procession to the crease. And followed Fuller’s tactics. His first ball, from Leach, he attempted to reverse sweep and missed. He was struck on the pad to another huge appeal. Not out. In Leach’s next over, Barker struck him back over his head to the Trescothick Pavilion for six and followed it, a ball later, by lofting the ball over straight midwicket to the Somerset Stand for four. With Fuller, and now Barker, hitting out, Organ, continuing his defensive vigil, took to padding the ball away. Then two on driven fours from Barker. One, leaned into off Vaughan, ran along the ground to the Somerset Stand, the other, lofted off Leach, reached the boundary just straight of the Ondaatje Stand. The earlier threatened rain had now receded, and the clouds had risen higher, but the floodlights were still on and the Brendon Hills, just visible to the west between the Gimblett’s Hill scoreboard and the flats looked forbidding, their glowering silhouette crystal clear. Now Barker reverse swept, but it was a lumbering stroke and he was bowled. Hampshire 154 for 8. Barker 19 from 14 balls. Deficit 300.

Kyle Abbott to the crease. Two sixes in succession came off Leach. One hit the Ondaatje Stand boards, the next flew straight to the Trescothick Pavilion. A single came from the next ball, but it was an inside edge which squeezed past the stumps to a communal groan. In Leach’s next over, Abbott reined himself in. There were five dot balls and a four, cut square to the Somerset Stand. “Sensible batting,” the comment. And then Organ, perhaps having decided that the fireworks at the other end could not long endure, suddenly slog swept a ball from Vaughan. The ball rose nearly vertically and was caught by Leach moving from a shortish midwicket to straight mid-on. Hampshire 172 for 9. Organ 10 from 57 balls in two minutes under an hour and a quarter. And, finally, Abbott drove Leach high to the long on boundary where Kasey Aldridge took the ball right on the line, threw it up as his momentum took him over the rope, and ran back in to complete the catch. Not so long before, that method of taking a catch right on the line was a spectacular innovation. By the time Aldridge took this one, it had become a fairly commonplace. The procession was finally over. Hampshire 172 all out. Abbott 18 from 15 balls in 19 minutes. Deficit 282.

A teatime circumnavigation found me seven overs into the evening session before I reached my seat. In that time, Hampshire, required to follow on, reached 16 for 0 including two boundaries which had broken from their overwhelmingly defensive approach. Somerset placed four close catchers for Leach and Vaughan who bowled in tandem from the outset as if Hampshire had continued their first innings uninterrupted. In the remaining 15 overs before rain brought an early end to the day, there was just one more boundary, a six lofted over long on by Orr off Leach, the ball landing in front of the Colin Atkinson Pavilion scoreboard from where it was retrieved by a steward and thrown back.

Otherwise, Hampshire concentrated on defence while Leach, Vaughan and, finally, Lewis Goldsworthy attacked. In successive overs, Orr took singles from an outside edge through slip and an inside edge, off Leach. “Come on Jack!” someone shouted. Two balls later, Leach beat Middleton. “Really good ball,” the comment. There were leg before wicket appeals, more edges, one of which, off Leach, went low, past Overton at slip. Whether or not it was a drop was a close-run call, but Overton stayed down. In one over, Orr was beaten by Vaughan and edged past slip for two to the Colin Atkinson Pavilion. “I can’t say they have played very well,” said one Somerset supporter of the Hampshire batters. “Come on boys!” shouted another.

In the final eight overs, four runs were scored, three of those from a single stroke, clipped off his toes by Orr square towards the Somerset Stand boundary. “Come on Vaughany,” someone shouted. There was a leg before wicket appeal against Orr two balls later. “There are a lot of appeals going on aren’t there?” someone thought. With the light fading and the floodlights on, the umpires conferred. And carried on. Somerset put five close fielders around the bat. Goldsworthy, replacing Leach at the River End, beat Orr as he drove and then forced a thick edge which ran to backward point. As the Brendons faded, at the other end, Vaughan turned what became that final ball of the day. Orr was struck on the pads, the ball was deflected to Overton at slip, a communal roar of “Yeah!” went up as Overton held onto the ball. It mattered not, for the decision was leg before wicket. And with that, the rain came and the players walked off for the night with Hampshire on 35 for 1 from a ball under 22 overs. It left one day for Somerset to take nine more wickets and score any runs needed if they succeeded. And for Hampshire, the prospect of a long, intense day of defensive batting if they were to save the game and perhaps their First Division status,

Close. Somerset 454 for 8 dec (K.L. Aldridge 180, T.B. Abell 118, C. Overton 50*). Hampshire 172 (M.J. Leach 7-69, A.M. Vaughan 3-79) and 35 for 1. Hampshire trail by 247 runs with nine second innings wickets standing.