Author: 'farmer white'

A long afternoon – Somerset v Lancashire – County Championship 2023 – 20th, 21st, 22nd and 23rd April – Final day

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County Championship 2023. Division 1. Somerset v Lancashire. 20th, 21st, 22nd and 23rd April. Taunton.

Somerset. T.A. Lammonby, S.R. Dickson, C.T. Bancroft, T.B. Abell (c), T. Kohler-Cadmore, J.E.K. Rew (w), L. Gregory, K.A. Aldridge, M.J. Leach, P.M. Siddle, J.A. Brooks.

Lancashire. K.K. Jennings (c), L.W.P. Wells, J.J. Bohannon, D.J. Vilas, G.J. Bell (w), C. de Grandhomme, G.P. Balderson, T.W. Hartley, T.E. Bailey, S. Mahmood, J.M. Anderson.

Overnight. Somerset 441 and 41 for 0. Lancashire 554. Somerset trail by 72 runs with ten second innings wickets standing.

Final day 23rd April – A long afternoon

My arrival at the ground shortly after the start was greeted with the fall of three wickets in the time it took me to get from the Brian Rose Gates to the top of the Trescothick Pavilion. Or in cricketing terms, in less than two overs. I came through the gates to Tom Lammonby defending on the back foot. Tom Bailey was bowling from the River End. The ball was full, found the edge and flew straight at the midriff of Colin de Grandhomme at second slip. As slip catches go, it was a straightforward catch straightforwardly taken. Somerset 49 for 1 and I was awake for the day. Lammonby 23.

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Siddle and Gregory Battle for Somerset – Somerset v Lancashire – County Championship 2023 -20th, 21st, 22nd and 23rd April. Third Day

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County Championship 2023. Division 1. Somerset v Lancashire. 20th, 21st, 22nd and 23rd April. Taunton.

Somerset. T.A. Lammonby, S.R. Dickson, C.T. Bancroft, T.B. Abell (c), T. Kohler-Cadmore, J.E.K. Rew (w), L. Gregory, K.A. Aldridge, M.J. Leach, P.M. Siddle, J.A. Brooks.

Lancashire. K.K. Jennings (c), L.W.P. Wells, J.J. Bohannon, D.J. Vilas, G.J. Bell (w), C. de Grandhomme, G.P. Balderson, T.W. Hartley, T.E. Bailey, S. Mahmood, J.M. Anderson.

Overnight. Somerset 441. Lancashire 302 for 1. Lancashire trail by 139 runs with nine second innings wickets standing.

Third day 22nd April – Gregory and Siddle battle for Somerset

This was a day when two Somerset’s bowlers, 37-year-old Peter Siddle and 30-year-old Lewis Gregory, who has battled through more back injuries than enough, stepped up and put Lancashire to the test on a pitch made in a batter’s dreamland. Lancashire ended on 554 all out, but the last eight wickets fell for 178 runs after the day began with talk among home supporters of 700 being within range. With Keaton Jennings and Josh Bohannon adding 72 relatively untroubled runs in the first 11 overs of the day that talk seemed painfully all too realistic from the top of the Trescothick Pavilion.

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Lancashire re-shape the match – Somerset v Lancashire – County Championship 2023 – 20th, 21st, 22nd and 23rd April – Second Day

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County Championship 2023. Division 1. Somerset v Lancashire. 20th, 21st, 22nd and 23rd April. Taunton.

Somerset. T.A. Lammonby, S.R. Dickson, C.T. Bancroft, T.B. Abell (c), T. Kohler-Cadmore, J.E.K. Rew (w), L. Gregory, K.A. Aldridge, M.J. Leach, P.M. Siddle, J.A. Brooks.

Lancashire. K.K. Jennings (c), L.W.P. Wells, J.J. Bohannon, D.J. Vilas, G.J. Bell (w), C. de Grandhomme, G.P. Balderson, T.W. Hartley, T.E. Bailey, S. Mahmood, J.M. Anderson.

Overnight. Somerset 311 for 4.

Second day 21st April – Lancashire re-shape the match

Lancashire were not daunted by Somerset’s apparently dominant position at the end of the first day. Their bowlers responded by taking six wickets on the second morning while Somerset added 130 runs. A total of 441 all out was, on the face of it, a total from which the match might be controlled. By the end of the day that view had been devastatingly dispelled after Lancashire’s top three added 302 runs at a five runs an over. Keaton Jennings, 124 not out, played as if he was extending his triple century at Southport in 2022. The Lancashire batting was a sobering experience for Somerset supporters and put the progress which Tom Abell and James Rew had made on the first day into sharp perspective.

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Rehabilitation – Somerset v Lancashire – County Championship 2023 – 20th, 21st, 22nd and 23rd April – Taunton – First day

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County Championship 2023. Division 1. Somerset v Lancashire. 20th, 21st, 22nd and 23rd April. Taunton.

Somerset. T.A. Lammonby, S.R. Dickson, C.T. Bancroft, T.B. Abell (c), T. Kohler-Cadmore, J.E.K. Rew (w), L. Gregory, K.A. Aldridge, M.J. Leach, P.M. Siddle, J.A. Brooks.

Lancashire. K.K. Jennings (c), L.W.P. Wells, J.J. Bohannon, D.J. Vilas, G.J. Bell (w), C. de Grandhomme, G.P. Balderson, T.W. Hartley, T.E. Bailey, S. Mahmood, J.M. Anderson.

Toss. Lancashire. Elected to field.

First day 20th April – Rehabilitation

In the end, this was a day of rehabilitation for Somerset. Having been put in by Lancashire, they were soon suffering from their, now almost traditional, malaise of losing early wickets. By the end of the tenth over they were three wickets down with only 24 runs on the board. Sean Dickson had gone for nought, literally walking into a leg before wicket decision against Jimmy Anderson. Tom Lammonby had tried to respond by attacking, an on drive off Anderson, beautifully leaned into, had brought an admiring cry of, “Good shot!” But on 15, after half an hour at the crease, he played a straight, defensive stroke to Anderson, the ball took the edge and was caught in front of his shins by Keaton Jennings at second slip.

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A comprehensive defeat – Nottinghamshire v Somerset – County Championship 2023 – 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th April – Final Day

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County Championship 2023. Division 1. Nottinghamshire v Somerset. 13th,14th, 15th and 16th April. Trent Bridge.

Nottinghamshire. H. Hameed, B.M. Duckett, B.T. Slater, J.M. Clarke, L.W. James, S.J. Mullaney (c),T.J. Moores (w), L.A. Patterson-White, B.A. Hutton, S.C.J. Broad, D. Paterson.

Somerset. T.A. Lammonby, S.R. Dickson, C.T. Bancroft, T.B. Abell (c), T. Kohler-Cadmore, J.E.K. Rew (w), L. Gregory, C. Overton, J.H. Davey, M.J. Leach, P.M. Siddle.

Overnight. Nottinghamshire 256 and 187 for 6. Somerset 173. Nottinghamshire lead by 270 runs with four second innings wickets standing.Final day 16th April – A comprehensive defeat

“Come on, skittle ‘em out so we can all go home and watch the football,” was the comment, said only half in jest from one of the Nottinghamshire supporters sitting behind me in the lower level of the Radcliffe Road Stand. The football referred to was the match due to start at half past four ‘just across the road’ at Nottingham Forest’s City Ground where Manchester United were the visitors. At Trent Bridge, Tom Lammonby had just been dismissed by Brett Hutton in the fourth over of Somerset’s second innings as a police siren wailed past the ground. “Already,” the voice from behind said, “and it’s still five hours to kick off.” In fact, it was the only police siren I heard all day. Lammonby was hit on the front foot, but there was no question. “It just did enough to beat the inside edge,” said the text from the online watcher. A fair cop it seems, but it was a dismissal indicative of Somerset’s day, and of their match. Not quite at the races might have been an appropriate summary, this being Grand National weekend.

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Déjà vu – Nottinghamshire v Somerset – County Championship 2023 – 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th – Third day

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County Championship 2023. Division 1. Nottinghamshire v Somerset. 13th,14th, 15th and 16th April. Trent Bridge.

Nottinghamshire. H. Hameed, B.M. Duckett, B.T. Slater, J.M. Clarke, L.W. James, S.J. Mullaney (c),T.J. Moores (w), L.A. Patterson-White, B.A. Hutton, S.C.J. Broad, D. Paterson.

Somerset. T.A. Lammonby, S.R. Dickson, C.T. Bancroft, T.B. Abell (c), T. Kohler-Cadmore, J.E.K. Rew (w), L. Gregory, C. Overton, J.H. Davey, M.J. Leach, P.M. Siddle.

Overnight. Nottinghamshire 256. Somerset 28 for 2. Somerset trail by 228 runs with eight first innings wickets standing.

Third day 15th April – Déjà vu

On the third day, Somerset slipped further behind Nottinghamshire. The old fragilities in the top order batting re-emerged with several batters out missing or edging drives. At 87 for 8, still 179 runs in arrears, they were in the deepest of trouble even with the loss of the second day to rain. Early season déjà vu for Somerset supporters. The conditions were ideal for bowling, as they had been on the first day, and the iron discipline of Brett Hutton and Dane Paterson reaped its rewards against Somerset’s swishing bats. Only Josh Davey, batting at nine, with support from Jack Leach and Peter Siddle, kept them in the match. His innings was an object lesson in disciplined selective hitting, if against a softening ball.

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A tough examination – Nottinghaamshire v Somerset – County Championship 2023 – 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th April – Trent Bridge

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County Championship 2023. Division 1. Nottinghamshire v Somerset. 13th,14th, 15th and 16th April. Trent Bridge.

Nottinghamshire. H. Hameed, B.M. Duckett, B.T. Slater, J.M. Clarke, L.W. James, S.J. Mullaney (c),T.J. Moores (w), L.A. Patterson-White, B.A. Hutton, S.C.J. Broad, D. Paterson.

Somerset. T.A. Lammonby, S.R. Dickson, C.T. Bancroft, T.B. Abell (c), T. Kohler-Cadmore, J.E.K. Rew (w), L. Gregory, C. Overton, J.H. Davey, M.J. Leach, P.M. Siddle.

Toss. Somerset. Elected to field.

First day 13th April – A tough examination

In mid-afternoon, At 171 for 2, having been put in by Somerset, Nottinghamshire were cruising towards a commanding, perhaps match-winning, total on a pitch that looked to be offering more to bowlers than to batters. Gregory had just dismissed Haseeb Hameed, the second of Nottinghamshire’s openers, after he and Ben Duckett had put on a century opening partnership. Now, Ben Slater pulled Gregory towards the Fox Road boundary. The ball took the top edge and flew high, too high to carry the boundary, over Tom Abell at midwicket. Abell back-pedalled, feet taking short, fast steps, adjusting and re-adjusting to the flight of the ball. Abell’s eyes were locked on the ascending projectile as assuredly as any air defence radar would an incoming missile. His brain must have calculated, re-calculated, and calculated again – distance, velocity, height, rate of climb, shape of trajectory, then rate of fall. As the ball hurtled earthwards, Abell, feet making their final adjustments, leaned back, hands above head, took the ball, fell backwards in a controlled roll, emerged triumphant and was engulfed by smiling Somerset players. It was a spectacularly well-judged catch and Nottinghamshire were 171 for 3.

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A classic Somerset start – Somerset v Warwickshire – County Championship 2023 – 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th April – Taunton

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County Championship 2023. Division 1. Somerset v Warwickshire. 6th,7th, 8th and 9th April. Taunton.

The author was unable to attend the final day of this match due to travelling to London for a non-cricket-related event which takes place only once every five years over the Easter weekend. The first two days on which play was possible were attended normally. The final day was followed online, through text messages from someone who was at the match and watched subsequently on replays from the Somerset CCC live stream.

Tom Abell had not fully recovered from a winter injury but played for the second team whilst this match was in progress.

Somerset. T.A. Lammonby, S.R. Dickson, C.T. Bancroft, T.Kohler-Cadmore, G.A. Bartlett, J.E.K. Rew (w), L. Gregory (c), C. Overton, J.H. Davey,  M.J. Leach, P.M. Siddle.

Warwickshire. W.M.H. Rhodes (c), E.G. Barnard, M.G.K. Burgess (c), S.R. Hain, A.L. Davies, J.G. Bethell, D.R. Mousley, R.M. Yates, O.J. Hannon-Dalby, Hasan Ali, C. Rushworth.

Overnight. Somerset 284. Warwickshire 307 for 5. Warwickshire lead by 23 runs with five first innings wickets in hand.

Final day 9th April – A classic Somerset start to the season

It only happens every five years, and always in London over the Easter Weekend. A quinquennial concert which we have attended for a quarter of a century. It has a habit of clashing with Somerset’s first match of the season. This time I missed the final day. It was one of those rare days when I have to keep up with the Somerset score from wherever I happen to be. A hardened supporter cannot not know the score. In these days of smartphones, ubiquitous internet connections and the 4G network it is easy and can be addictive. County matches can, for the truly addicted be watched on the online livestream while on the move. Not very many years ago the absent supporter would be dependent on friends to text the occasional score and before that the sporting stop press of the evening paper. It was a different world.

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Somerset out in the cold – County Championship 2023 – 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th April – Third Day

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County Championship 2023. Division 1. Somerset v Warwickshire. 6th,7th, 8th and 9th April. Taunton.

The author was unable to attend the final day of this match due to travelling to London for a non-cricket-related event which takes place only once every five years over the Easter weekend. The first two days on which play was possible (there was no play on the first day) were attended normally. The final day was followed online and watched subsequently on a replay of the Somerset CCC live stream.

Tom Abell had not fully recovered from a winter injury, but played for the second team whilst this match was in progress.

Somerset. T.A. Lammonby, S.R. Dickson, C.T. Bancroft, T.Kohler-Cadmore, G.A. Bartlett, J.E.K. Rew (w), L. Gregory (c), C. Overton, J.H. Davey,  M.J. Leach, P.M. Siddle.

Warwickshire. W.M.H. Rhodes (c), E.G. Barnard, M.G.K. Burgess (c), S.R. Hain, A.L. Davies, J.G. Bethell, D.R. Mousley, R.M. Yates, O.J. Hannon-Dalby, Hasan Ali, C. Rushworth.

Overnight. Somerset 269 for 8.

Third day 7th April – Somerset out in the cold

This was a day in which Warwickshire’s moved ahead but perhaps lost their way a little at the end as the bitter April cold engulfed the day. But first, the unfinished business of Somerset’s first innings. As so often with a batter not out with a good score overnight, Gregory, main architect of the Somerset second-evening revival was on his way back to the Caddick Pavilion, caught at slip by Robert Yates off Chris Rushworth for 65. Peter Siddle briefly lit up Somerset’s morning with a cover and an on drive off Oliver Hannon-Dalby’s naggingly persistent pace but was soon struck on the pad and Somerset were all out for 284. Siddle 10. Jack Leach 27 not out. “Not necessarily a bad thing, those two wickets,” someone along from me in the top of the Trescothick Pavilion said, “It probably means the ball is moving.”

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Carpe Diem – Gregory and Davey sieze the day. Somerset v Warwickshire. County Championship 2023. 6th, 7th,8th and 9th April. Taunton

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County Championship 2023. Division 1. Somerset v Warwickshire. 6th,7th, 8th and 9th April. Taunton.

The author was unable to attend the final day of this match due to travelling to London for a non-cricket-related event which takes place once every five years over the Easter weekend. The first two days on which play was possible were attended normally. The final day was followed online as the day unfolded and with subsequent access to the Somerset CCC live stream.

Tom Abell had not fully recovered from a winter injury but played for the second team as part of his recovery whilst this match was in progress.

Somerset. T.A. Lammonby, S.R. Dickson, C.T. Bancroft, T.Kohler-Cadmore, G.A. Bartlett, J.E.K. Rew (w), L. Gregory (c), C. Overton, J.H. Davey,  M.J. Leach, P.M. Siddle.

Warwickshire. W.M.H. Rhodes (c), E.G. Barnard, M.G.K. Burgess (c), S.R. Hain, A.L. Davies, J.G. Bethell, D.R. Mousley, R.M. Yates, O.J. Hannon-Dalby, Hasan Ali, C. Rushworth.

Toss. Somerset. Elected to bat.

Second day 6th April – Carpe Diem – Gregory and Davey seize the day

Easter was early this year, and the cricket season began before the Easter Bank Holiday weekend, if only just. At least it did in most of the country. At Taunton, it was delayed a day, until Good Friday. The outfield had had more than its fill of rain and the areas in front of the Trescothick and Colin Atkinson Pavilions were too wet to accommodate the scurrying feet of cricketers. There had been work on the outfield in the winter, March rainfall was more than one and a half times its normal allocation and it had taken its toll. Black sheeting covered the area in front of the Colin Atkinson Pavilion and the boundary rope had been brought in 15 metres or so to accommodate it. Sand too had been distributed over much of the outfield, was clearly visible in front of the Trescothick Pavilion and in many parts of the ground erupted in explosive puffs when a ball hit through the air touched ground. Just enough space and dryness remained to squeeze in a first-class cricket match and a pair of can-do umpires called a start with only eight overs lost from the second day.

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Umeed’s Match – Derbyshire v Somerset – Metro Bank One-Day Cup 2023 – Derby – 22nd August

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Derbyshire v Somerset. Metro Bank One-Day Cup 2023. Derby. 22nd August.

Umeed’s Match

Toss. Derbyshire. Elected to field.

I watched this match through the Derbyshire CCC live stream, having decided this year not to travel to away matches in this competition. I relented for Bristol and suffered an acute reaction while I was there to the extensive dental work undertaken while the Northamptonshire match was on. For Durham and Derbyshire, sticking with the original decision seemed wise. They are both a long way from home if a dentist is needed urgently. As far as could be told from the live stream, the Derby crowd seemed sparse compared to a Taunton one in this competition but seemed fully engaged and to be enjoying their cricket. The stands were all well-populated, but far from full, and there are swathes of the ground, including one entire side of which, as far as I could see, with virtually no seating at all.

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A Run Out, A Surprise and the Team Fights On – Metro Bank One-Day Cup 2023 – Somerset v Glamorgan – Taunton – 20th August

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Metro Bank One-Day Cup 2023. Somerset v Glamorgan. Taunton. 20th August.

A Run Out, a Surprise and the Team Fights On

Toss. Somerset. Elected to bat.

There was another excellent atmosphere at Taunton, this time for Family Day as this match was themed. The ground was abuzz when I arrived just in time to be hurried past the end of Gimblett’s Hill by a steward as Timm van der Gugten walked to the top of his run to bowl the first ball. There was a loud appeal as I emerged from the other end of the walkway behind the Trescothick Pavilion, but Somerset survived, and I was soon in my seat on the upper level. The crowd, despite the Women’s Football World Cup Final taking place with England as participants, was not far short of earlier ones in this competition. The football was present on the screen in The Stragglers with enough people watching for a cheer to permeate the atmosphere at the top of the Trescothick Pavilion when England’s goalkeeper, Mary Earps, saved a penalty. It wasn’t enough. In the end, England lost 1-0.

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Phoenix Rising – Durham v Somerset – Metro Bank One-Day Cup 2023 – Gosforth – 17th August

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Durham v Somerset. Metro Bank One-Day Cup 2023. Gosforth. 17th August.

Phoenix Rising

Toss. Somerset. Elected to field.

The festival atmosphere of outground cricket can be relaxing whatever the state of the game. It does though have its drawbacks if you are trying to follow the game from home. Not least outground livestreams can be unreliable or shaky. Southport last year was apparently an exception to that rule. At Gosforth, the steam shrivelled and died entirely before the fifth over was out. So, it was back to the old days of sitting or working in the garden, or being on holiday, and listening to the radio commentary. Days of radio memory, some as vividly recalled as days at the cricket.

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Untimely ripped – Gloucestershire v Somerset – Metro Bank One-Day Cup 2023 – Bristol – 13th August

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Gloucestershire v Somerset. Metro Bank One-Day Cup 2023. Bristol. 13th August.

Untimely ripped

Toss. Somerset. Elected to field.

“I’m not sure what you are going to write about that,” said a Somerset supporter as we crossed paths during the Somerset innings. Somerset’s prospects of winning the match had long been consigned to oblivion and Gloucestershire had been unmercifully rampant. There was no hint of disdain at Somerset’s inadequate efforts. The comment was though laced with concern about the impact on Somerset’s young players, for they had been, as Shakespeare’s MacDuff might have had it, untimely ripped from their cricketing development to face a ferocious onslaught from experienced players. One of Somerset’s young players was aged 20, five were teenagers. The match took place on the field at Bristol and was thoroughly enjoyed by the Gloucestershire crowd, but the eye of the Somerset supporter, at least most of those to whom I spoke, was cast on a wider perspective.

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A Day to Relax – Metro Bank One-Day Cup 2023 – Somerset v Sussex – Taunton – 11th August.

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Metro Bank One-Day Cup 2023. Somerset v Sussex. Taunton. 11th August.

A day to relax

Toss. Somerset. Elected to bat.

There was a wonderful, joyous atmosphere with smiling faces wherever you looked. Faces of all ages too. Literally from four to twice forty and probably every age in between. Groups, couples and families. From people with the greyest of grey hair to a four or five-year-old trying to stand on his head. People came and went to the bar, or to buy a cup of coffee or an ice cream, but most of the time most of the people were focused on the matter in hand. The Wurzels that is. They played for an hour in the St James Street car park after the match and at its peak, the audience must have been nearer a thousand than five hundred. Almost devoid of cars, the car park looked bigger than it normally does and it was a perfect end to the day.

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Escape to the Dentist – Northamptonshire v Somerset – Metro Bank One-Day Cup 2o23 – 9th August – Northampton

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Northamptonshire v Somerset. Metro Bank One-Day Cup 2023. Northampton. 9th August 2023.

Escape to the Dentist.

Toss. Northamptonshire. Elected to bat.

I don’t know what was more unwelcome. Two hours in the dentist’s chair or Somerset’s result at Northampton. The one relief of the dentist’s chair was that I missed the most destructive part of Prithvi Shaw’s innings. Needless to say, my dentist is not in Northampton, so I am indebted to Northamptonshire for their live stream for the torment I did suffer. And I think I suffered it in quadruplicate, for that is how many times they seemed to replay each of Somerset’s woes. At least at the dentist you only have to suffer each woe once, although that is quite a few when you are undergoing two complicated procedures and a couple of extractions on the one visit. After two hours in the dentist’s chair you leave with a sense of having been pummeled unmercifully and the fearful headache that a couple of hours with your mouth stretched wide open leaves you with, at least it left me with one.

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Dancing to the Rhythm of Duckworth Lewis – Metro Bank One-Day Cup 2023 – Somerset v Worcestershire – Taunton – 6th August

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Metro Bank One-Day Cup 2023. Somerset v Worcestershire. Taunton. 6th August.

Dancing to the Rhythm of Duckworth Lewis

Toss. Somerset. Elected to bat.

Sunday afternoon was different from Friday evening. Both had atmosphere, both had tension, and both had large crowds which spoke of an attachment to this competition even though it is denuded of its stars. The Hundred seemed a million miles away and never got a mention within my hearing. The crowd was slightly down on the one on Friday night, but not by much and it had an atmosphere all of its own. Relaxed, chatty, engaged with the cricket and more prone to applaud than to cheer, and applaud they did, for good cricket by either side and whenever Somerset made headway in the game. Not that cheers were entirely absent. They couldn’t be resisted whenever a Worcestershire wicket fell or when James Rew produced a switch hit to land the ball in the Ondaatje Stand.

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An Excellent Day at the Cricket – Metro Bank One-Day Cup 2023 – Somerset v Warwickshire – 4th August – Taunton

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An Excellent Day at the Cricket

Metro Bank One-Day Cup 2023. Somerset v Warwickshire. 4th August. Taunton.

Not the result Somerset supporters would have wanted, but it was an excellent day at the cricket. Tremendous atmosphere. Large crowd, probably four thousand plus, maybe even a few more. And it didn’t rain. We even had a couple of spitfires fly over. It is always wise to have air cover when there is a battle going on below. The retail area (if you are over 50) or fan zone (if you are under 50) was alive with smiling people each time I looked with no adverse consequences that I saw from the amount of alcohol on sale. There were a lot of younger people in the crowd and a goodly number of families.

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Captain’s Innings – Ian Botham – NatWest Trophy Semi-Final 1983 – Middlesex v Somerset – Lord’s – 17 August 1983

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This is a short snippet about the 1983 National Westminster Bank Trophy semi-final between Middleex and Somerset at Lord’s. Ian Botham captained the Somerset side throughout the 1983 Nat West Trophy, including the Final at Lord’s, due to a long period of injury to Brian Rose, although Rose was still Club Captain.

Ian Botham played one of the all-time great Somerset ‘captain’s innings’ in the semi-final at Lord’s against Middlesex. Chasing 223 to win (not an unreasonable target to set in those days) Botham came to the wicket with Somerset on 43 for 4 with Viv Richards already out and soon lost Phil Slocombe to make it 52 for 5. With the five wickets having fallen to Norman Cowans and Neil Williams and Middlesex also having Wayne Daniel, John Embury and Phil Edmonds the outlook looked bleak indeed.

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