It was a good job they both did well because these Overton twins, Jamie and Craig, are a competitive pair who do not particularly like it when one succeeds and the other does not. It was certainly a case of “anything you can do, I can do better” as they opened the door for Somerset to inflict a rare defeat on Yorkshire during an enthralling third day.
The 21-year-old Devonian bowlers prospered with bat and ball through the morning and evening sessions, and the champions are now in danger of suffering only a fourth defeat since Jason Gillespie took charge at the start of 2012 – a run of 53 matches. Make no mistake, Yorkshire are nowhere near dead and buried. They have a lead of 124 with Jonny Bairstow and Adil Rashid in partnership for the sixth wicket, and could still win the game. But nervy times such as these have been few and far between for the champions in recent years. After conceding a first-innings lead of 47, they slipped to 117 for five after tea, with Craig taking the three key wickets of Jack Leaning, Andrew Gale and Glenn Maxwell in a damaging seven-over burst.
Somerset started the day 129 runs in arrears at 309 for four and lost early wickets to hamper their chances of a first-innings lead, including the Australian Tom Cooper for 99, before Jamie and Craig came together at 409 for nine for a brutal tenth-wicket stand of 76 in only 5.5 overs immediately before lunch.
Jamie, a bowler called into England’s full one-day squad for the summer series against Australia two years ago, led the way with 50 off only 19 balls, with seven fours and three sixes. Craig contributed 31 not out off 25, and a perfect example of their sibling rivalry came in the 99th and 100th overs. Craig, awarded his 11th England Lions cap in South Africa earlier this year, hit the seamer Steve Patterson for four fours in the first of those overs before Jamie did likewise to Adil Rashid in the next. “Jamie got after Liam Plunkett the over before and I thought ‘I’ve got to keep up,’” Craig said. “I then hit the four fours off Patterson and he hit his off Rashid. I know he can hit it harder than me, but I’m more technical, more stylish.” Cue a surprised look from Jamie, sat next to his brother in the press conference.
Surprisingly, the Overton twins have batted together only four times in Championship cricket, with three of Jamie’s top four scores coming in partnership with his brother. Their batting was not the end of their day’s work as Jamie kept things tight from the River end while Craig prospered with his three wickets from the Old Pavilion end. “If we can get them out for a lead of 200, we’re right in the game to win it,” Craig said.
