Match report
A very modest ceremony takes place. Tom Westley walks up the plinth alone to collect the trophy, before taking it back to his teammates in front of a sprinkling of applauding journalists, photographers and ECB/MCC staff. No champagne, no leaping about. In a nice touch, Westley and Alastair Cook then go straight away to touch elbows with Lauren Clark, Bob Willis’s wife, who designed the trophy.
That really is it for this first-class season, short but perfectly formed as it was. Thanks to you all for reading and commenting; time for a train home. It’s goodnight from Lord’s, and it’s good night from me. Roll on spring!
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In front of the pavilion, the presentation paraphernalia collects, the covers are driven onto the pitch and the teams gather.
A final email from Nat Godden: “As an Essex supporter (through thick and thin), I can’t help but admire the sense that somehow, we’ve done Somerset a favour by again not allowing them to win this year. Schadenfreude alongside the windfall cider-apples, or what? What a five days, though!”
Essex win the Bob Willis Trophy
Huge congratulations to Essex, the best red ball team in the country, after a wonderful game against the second best red-ball team in the country. The teams bump fists in front of the pavilion and all is well with the world.
Handshakes all round: Match drawn
80.3 over: Essex 179-6 Target 237 (Harmer 0, Wheater 14)
Moment of the Season @tjaldred? The first ball.
— Gary Naylor (@garynaylor999) September 27, 2020
80th over: Essex 179-6 Target 237 (Harmer 0, Wheater 14) A moment of discombobulation from Ten Doeschate, but after a invaluable vigil of 137 balls.
WICKET! Ten Doeschate c Bartlett b Leach
Ten Doeschate hoops to Bartlett at mid wicket! Too late, me thinks
79th over: Essex 179-5 Target 237 (Ten Doeschate 46, Wheater 14) From nowhere, Ten Doeschate can’t resist hooking Gregory, it looks as if it should speed up the hill but the fielders catch it. Next ball glides down to third man for a boundary. Two/three overs left.
“Cognitive dissonance has kicked in,” writes Kim Thonger. “This isn’t the right year for Somerset to win anyway. The open top bus victory parade along Weston-super-Mare sea front wouldn’t be right with social distancing and in the teeth of an October gale racing in on its long run up from the Bristol Channel end.”
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78th over: Essex 172-5 Target 237 (Ten Doeschate 43, Wheater 10) Another vote comes in from Alex Smith: “James Fuller’s hat-trick down at Arundel, particularly Morne Morkel shouldering arms at the hat-trick ball.” Three, or four, overs left.
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77th over: Essex 171-5 Target 237 (Ten Doeschate 42, Wheater 10) With three overs left - and this drifting to a close, nominate your moment of the season. For Paul Edwards, it was “Jack Burnham being bowled by a yorker by Yorkshire’s Matt Fisher, it managed to knock two stumps out of the ground and Burnham off his feet.”
76th over: Essex 171-5 Target 237 (Ten Doeschate 42, Wheater 10) Another over passes with a sign and they can start engraving that trophy. Somerset’s wait must continue.
75th over: Essex 171-5 Target 237 (Ten Doeschate 42, Wheater 10) Wheater has to jump at one that leaps from Gregory. Time for one last sanitation break. Up in the Warner stands, a selection of dignitaries have gathered. Six overs left.
74th over: Essex 171-5 Target 237 (Ten Doeschate 42, Wheater 10) Leach is back again, this time from the pavilion end. He’s bowling to Ten Doeschate who has four men in his ear. A couple of runs up towards the grandstand as we head towards the final half hour.
73rd over: Essex 167-5 Target 237 (Ten Doeschate 40, Wheater 8) It’s all change as Gregory replaces Brooks at the Nursery End. Wheater cuts him for two then one keeps low and almost does for Wheater.
72nd over: Essex 167-5 Target 237 (Ten Doeschate 40, Wheater 8) Overton hits Ten Doeschate on the back leg, oof, looks painful.
71st over: Essex 167-5 Target 237 (Ten Doeschate 40, Wheater 8) Leach wanders off the field, not sure if that’s the last we’ve seen of him for the season. Brooks replaces him and Wheater eeks a boundary through fine leg.Time running out here for Somerset.
70th over: Essex 161-5 Target 237 (Ten Doeschate 40, Wheater 4) Overton to throw the dice one last time. Hauls his tired body in once more from the pavilion end. Ten Doeschate picks up a couple of twos, arrowing the ball towards the boundary but the outfield has slowed on this the fifth day.
69th over: Essex 159-5 Target 237 (Ten Doeschate 36, Wheater 4)
Last hour
68th over: Essex 157-5 Target 237 (Ten Doeschate 36, Wheater 2) The umpires, then the ground announcer, proclaim this is the start of the final hour. We get another over of Lammonby’s left-arm medium-pace. Ten Doeschate safely plays him away. And the Somerset fielders are quiet now, do they/can they still believe? In the meantime? Kim Thonger has a question: “Can any other OBOers recommend the services of a good medium? When Somerset seal this deal I shall need to contact my maternal grandfather Tom Thonger to give him the glad tidings and a seance at a suitable Somerset hostelry seems the obvious way to do that. I’m currently thinking The Queen Victoria Inn at Priddy on The Mendips is the ideal location, with it getting chilly, by their open fireplace, but open to other suggestions.”
66th over: Essex 157-5 Target 237 (Ten Doeschate 36, Wheater 2) Byrom is removed after his one over, to be replaced with man of the moment Lammonby. Ten Doeschate picks him off for a couple of boundaries.
If, incidentally, Essex win this - it will be their third first-class trophy in four years.
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65th over: Essex 149-5 Target 237 (Ten Doeschate 28, Wheater 2) Wheater, bricked in by those Somerset fielders, calmly plays through another Leach over.
“Despite hailing from Wimbledon (almost Surrey) and playing club cricket against the likes of Carshalton, Cheam etc, I have never been muuch of a fan of county cricket....” writes Julian Menz.
“I was so bowled over (yes, I know) by the unexpected success of the summer though, that I am clinging on. A big Cook ton, no sure winter tour.
“I even got my 5-year-old daughter to grab her plastic bat and hit a few ball’s after showing her some YouTube highlights during the summer. Given that she’s born and lives in Sweden, that’s no mean feat.
“As summer fades into autumn (it’s bloody cold already here in Sweden), we can reflect in the warm glow of a great cricketing summer.”
Great stuff!
64thover: Essex 149-5 Target 237 (Ten Doeschate 28, Wheater 2) Abell’s options are limited and he looks at his selection of limited flavours and draws on Eddie Byrom, yet to take a first-class wicket. It’s an, um, rather mixed bag, Ten Doeshate slams a leg side dobber to fine leg.
63rd over: Essex 145-5 Target 237 (Ten Doeschate 24, Wheater 2) Wheater, waits, three helmeted fielders breathing down his neck. He pokes and prods but survives.
62nd over: Essex 145-5 Target 237 (Ten Doeschate 24, Wheater 2) Ten Doeschate rises nicely up on his toes and glides Gregory towards third man for a couple.
Hi @tjaldred . At the risk of appearing older than I actually am, this is starting to feel a bit like Underwood vs Australia at the Oval in 1968 must have done. #BWTFinal
— Wild&HomelessBooks (@WHBooksBridport) September 27, 2020
61st over: Essex 143-5 Target 237 (Ten Doeschate 22, Wheater 2) As if by magic, the Essex physio strolls out to slowly check on Wheater’s hand. It turns out it’s ok. Sanitation break.
60th over: Essex 143-5 Target 237 (Ten Doeschate 22, Wheater 2) Some lovely fielding from Lammonby prevents a Ten Doeschate bounday but I think Essex have given up on the win. It’s all press, press, reach. Twenty overs left
Ah Brian Withington again: “Further to my observation BTL, is there any precedent for the batting team to appeal successfully against the floodlight glare off a bowler’s bald pate? Might Leach be require to bowl wearing a cap, or at least a liberal application of Factor 50?”
59th over: Essex 142-5 Target 237 (Ten Doeschate 22, Wheater 1) Leach whizzes through that so quickly I didn’t see a ball.
58th over: Essex 141-5 Target 237 (Ten Doeschate 22, Wheater 0) Ten Doeschate knocks Gregory for a couple off his pads.
Robert Wilson is feeling mischievous. “Why don’t they turn off the floodlights and have a go in the dark? It would be a laugh in a Lord of The Rings:80s tour of India kind of way.
Is it the camera position or has the slope got a lot more dramatic? Subsidence? Orcs? I like it. It gives the instinctive physics of cricket-watching a little spice. 140/150 odd for 5 is a perfect match position for making mistakes. On both sides. It’s a sadly neglected part of good sport, making mistakes. Where’s the praise for exciting errors? Why is the county cricket over-rate so dizzyingly better than that of Tests?”
Today, it is spice. But as a general rule, I’m not sure the over rate is that much better? Someone will have the figures at their fingers tips...
57th over: Essex 139-5 Target 237 (Ten Doeschate 20, Wheater 0) Leach reels through another maiden but time is ticking away, Ten Doeschate is careful, deliberate. But we’ve seen too many close finishes this BWT to assume anything ....yet.
A hopeful email appears from Abhijato Sensarma “With another season of the English first-class summer coming to a close, I would like to thank The Guardian for its excellent coverage as usual. This felt like an interlude, and not only because it took place in the middle of a pandemic. There have also been talks about restructuring the Championship to be more like the Bob Willis Trophy. None of us know what will happen, but I hope for the best. Despite all the oddities and revamps, there’s a reason why this sport has survived in the public conscience for as long as it has. Cricket, you’ll be alright!”
56th over: Essex 139-5 Target 237 (Ten Doeschate 20, Wheater 0) Four leg byes from Ten Doeschate off Gregory, spray to the rope under the eye of the media centre. The target falls below 100.
55th over: Essex 133-5 Target 237 (Ten Doeschate 20, Wheater 0) Lots of sheeesh and shlurp as Esssex resolutely prod.
54th over: Essex 132-5 Target 237 (Ten Doeschate 19, Wheater 0) Overton is replaced after one over - too quick in the gloom we assume - and Gregory takes over. Wheater doesn’t look entirely comfortable.
Simon Porter types: “While hoping for an Essex victory can I applaud both sides for putting on an enthralling game in difficult conditions. A great advert for ‘proper’ cricket - and thanks to you for keeping us entertained too.”
They’ve been great haven’t they?
53rd over: Essex 131-5 Target 237 (Ten Doeschate 18, Wheater 0) After a vigil of 88 balls, Walter has to go! Danger man Wheater walks out and Leach has his second wicket of the season.
WICKET! Walter lbw Leach 21
A second for Leach, coming round the wicket, Walter stretches forward and thanks very much!
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52nd over: Essex 131-4 Target 237 (Ten Doeschate 18, Walter 21) Not sure what was happening there as Overton continues from the Pavilion End at full pace, though perhaps a touch fuller?!
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51st over: Essex 131-4 Target 237 (Ten Doeschate 18, Walter 21) Just a handful off that over. Then - what is this - the umpires take the light-meters out - and they seem to be telling Abell that Somerset have to bowl spin. He has a long chat with Overton... everyone looks confused.
“Is there any room behind Kim Thonger’s sofa for a nervous Essex supporter and three retired/failed guide dogs?” Asks Brian Withington. “All tolerably house trained, unless provoked by further fall of wickets.”
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Final session of the summer
50th over: Essex 128-4 Target 237 (Ten Doeschate 17, Walter 19) Overton, fresh from a rub down of those weary limbs, bowls his 14th full-throttle over of the innings. A maiden.
The plane trees hanging over the wall from the pavement are shedding their leaves outside the Tavern stand, while the trees by the side of the Harris Gardens slowly turn.
Tea:Essex 128-4 Target 237
49th over: Essex 128-4 Target 237 (Ten Doeschate 17, Walter 19) Vic walks in saying, “oh dear, oh dear.” And that’s tea! Essex’s to lose. Restart at 3.30, just off to walk mini laps of the certified area of Lord’s.
48th over: Essex 121-4 Target 237 (Ten Doeschate 11, Walter 18) Just the usual couple of lbw shouts.
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47th over: Essex 121-4 Target 237 (Ten Doeschate 11, Walter 18) Walter dribbles one past short leg and they come back for two, then Ten Doeschate clips Leach for two more. There are at least two raucous appeals every over at the moment.
46th over: Essex 115-4 Target 237 (Ten Doeschate 8, Walter 15) Overton gets one to rise to Ten Doeschate’s head, he jerks it out of the way and somehow guides the ball behind for four at the same time. Another fierce appeal follows for a caught behind . It’s all getting rather tense out there.
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45th over: Essex 111-4 Target 237 (Ten Doeschate 4, Walter 15) Dot, dot, dot, dot, dot, dot. Interspersed with a couple of hearty appeals.
44th over: Essex 111-4 Target 237 (Ten Doeschate 4, Walter 15) Overton returns, this time from the pavilion end. Steam spurting out of both nostrils, he hurricanes. A loud, prolonged appeal for caught behind against Ten Doeschate, supported by the slips, turned down by the umpire.
Kim Thonger pings an email, “Both dachshunds, also Somerset fans, have joined me behind the sofa. We are now effectively playing our own game of sardines. Please could you ask Essex to do the decent thing and collapse like good chaps. We can’t take much more.”
43rd over: Essex 111-4 Target 237 (Ten Doeschate 4, Walter 15) I love that Leach, such an unsportsman-looking sportsman, bespectacled, slight, can play alongside the Overton and Walters. Walter posts him for four.
42nd over: Essex 107-4 Target 237 (Ten Doeschate 4, Walter 11) It is so bleak out there, I wouldn’t be surprised to hear Christmas Carols round the tree in the pavilion. (I think they do that, which always sounded rather nice. Decorations presumably bacon and egg themed.)
41st over: Essex 106-4 Target 237 (Ten Doeschate 4, Walter 10) Keeper, two slips, short leg, A maiden. And Tom Lammonby is the Cricket Society young player of the year.
40th over: Essex 106-4 Target 237 (Ten Doeschate 4, Walter 10) Walter releases the tension with a boundary etched through the leg side.
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39th over: Essex 102-4 Target 237 (Ten Doeschate 4, Walter 6) Ten Doeschate, who was 40 in June, possibly playing his last innings for Essex, nips a couple of duos, then carefully, carefully, plays Leach down the pitch.
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38th over: Essex 98-4 Target 237 (Ten Doeschate 0, Walter 6) I don’t want to worry Somerset fans but an unamed source in the box thinks bad light is going to play more of part today. A maiden from Brooks.
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37th over: Essex 98-4 Target 237 (Ten Doeschate 0, Walter 6) Leach’s first wicket since Tim Southee at Mount Maunganui 10 months ago. The pendulum swings towards Zumerzet.
WICKET! Lawrence lbw Leach 35
Leach’s first wicket of the season! A big, fat, juicy plum of an lbw.
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36th over: Essex 96-3 Target 237 (Lawrence 35, Walter 6) Brooks switches end and Walter has a wild brush but gets away with it.
“Good cold afternoon Tanya,” Good cold afternoon Tone White!”
“I remember sneaking (free) into the Chelmsford ground around 1952. Ish. Many things were possible in those days, including ruining best shoes at the riverside.
The weather was similar but the cricket was different. That’s all!
Thanks for working on Sunday.”
It is honestly a pleasure.
35th over: Essex 95-3 Target 237 (Lawrence 34, Walter 6) And sure enough it is Leach. First ball he has Lawrence groping to one that dips. Lawrence then slams him through to the cover boundary. A single brings Walter to the striker’s end, whereupon much jiggery pokery and rearranging of field occurs.
34th over: Essex 90-3 (Lawrence 29, Walter 6) Much clapping and encouragement from the Somerset players as Davey skims in. At first slip, Tom Abell warms up. Bess, who has been fielding as 12th man on his last day on the Somerset books before he moves to Yorkshire, returns to the pavilion as someone ( I can’t tell who) jogs out with a helmet on. It suggests, it must be Jack Leach...
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33rd over: Essex 88-3 (Lawrence 28, Walter 6) Will Lawrence and Walter mind being becalmed? Only three runs and a leg bye in the last five overs. No sign of agitation yet as they carefully play back to Brooks.
32nd over: Essex 88-3 (Lawrence 27, Walter 6) Lawrence is so tall, like a gardener turning potatoes, he defends the ball easily back in the soil. A maiden.
31st over: Essex 88-3 (Lawrence 27, Walter 6) Brooks, white headband pulled down on his head, like an Easter Egg, draws Lawrence into a false prod. He’s got it zipping through.
30th over: Essex 88-3 (Lawrence 27, Walter 6) A quick sanitisation break follows another over from Gregory.
29th over: Essex 86-3 (Lawrence 26, Walter 5) Brooks, injured thumb obviously sufficiently recovered, gets his first over, replacing Overton from the Nursery end. Causes problems, just a leg bye from it.
28th over: Essex 85-3 (Lawrence 26, Walter 5) Damn you spell check!
Whoops! Adrian Goldman
“Hmm. Won’t they get disqualified for that? right there on the pitch??”
and Andrew Benton.
“I love the thought of Somerset’s fielders having a punt in the outfield in celebration - though that would surely be against the rules?. Wondering if you mean gambol? :-)
Hope they win, however they celebrate!”
28th over: Essex 82-3 (Lawrence 25, Walter 3) Overton, like the wind, Lawrence plays him carefully, picks up one. Walter, 6 foot 7 to Overton’s 6 foot 5, ticks up one the other end.
27th over: Essex 80-3 (Lawrence 24, Walter 2) Somerset jogging into position at the end of each over, Bartlett hands shoved deep in his pockets, big, proper, cable knit woolly jumpers all round.
26th over: Essex 78-3 (Lawrence 24, Walter 0) Just the four leg byes.
25th over: Essex 74-3 (Lawrence 24, Walter 0) Superb bowling by Gregory who follows up Cook’s wicket with a - close- lbw shout against Lawrence. Next ball, Lawrence catapaults him back down the ground.
WICKET! Cook c Davies b Gregory 31
THE BIG ONE! He’s not impressed, he puts his hand on his hip but has to go, walks off at glacial pace. Somerset’s fielders gambol in pure delight.
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24th over: Essex 67-2 (Lawrence 19, Cook 30) It looks even darker out there. Just one off Overton’s over, whose pose after delivery matches the anguish of one of Bosch’s poor souls caught falling into hell
What a great game. About 1,000 times more interesting than any Twenty20 match
— Stephen Moss (@StephenMossGdn) September 27, 2020
A meringue v a fruit cake - both have their place.
23rd over: Essex 67-2 (Lawrence 19, Cook 30) Gregory sends down a swift bouncer, which Lawrence, tall and upright, ducks. The slips continue to moan with the wind.
22nd over: Essex 66-2 (Lawrence 19, Cook 30) Overton again from the Nursery end. In he pounds, Lawrence drives him, heady like a whiff of lavender, through the covers.
“Hello from a balmy afternoon in Nairobi.” Areas, Robert Darby. “While I take Tim de Lisle’s point about Alastair Cook’s batting performance totally overshadowing the rest of the team, he has made a slight error. Cook’s colleagues have lost 9 wickets and not 11 because they were not all out in the first innings.”
20th over: Essex 61-2 (Lawrence 15, Cook 29) Lawrence plays out a Gregory maiden.
The players retake the field...
Time for a leg stretch, back shortly!
LUNCH Essex 61-2 need 176 for an outright win
19th over: Essex 61-2 (Lawrence 15, Cook 29) Somerset are desperate for another wicket to lunch on, but Cook is not playing ball and, head over knee, plays Davey straight back, before strolling back to the pavilion for jam roly-poly.
Tim de Lisle has been watching Alastair Cook.
#BWTfinal @tjaldred Alastair Cook approaching 200 in the match, for once out. Slight contrast with 152 for 11 (up to Westley's dismissal today) by all his team-mates, or should we say the kids in his class
— Tim de Lisle (@TimdeLisle) September 27, 2020
18th over: Essex 61-2 (Lawrence 15, Cook 29) Gregory, smart bowling from the pavilion end, a very close lbw shout against Lawrence, who survives to live at least until lunch (probably). Lawrence then lifts his arms high in a leave as if scratching Old Father Time’s armpits.
17th over: Essex 55-2 (Lawrence 11, Cook 29) Lawrence screams an outside edge off Davey, Cook altogether more circumspect.
16th over: Essex 52-2 (Lawrence 8, Cook 27) It’s gloomy out there as they pause for a sanitation break just short of lunch.
Presumably the guy holding the urn has hemlock in it, in case he’s selected
— Bob O'Hara (@BobOHara) September 27, 2020
15th over: Essex 51-2 (Lawrence 7, Cook 27)
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13th over: Essex 50-2 (Lawrence 6, Cook 27) An expensive over as that man Cook turns Gregory off his boots and then swivel pulls, most uncharacteristically, both fours.
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12th over: Essex 37-2 (Lawrence 5, Cook 19) A change of ends for Davey almost brings a wicket. Cook within a sigh of being beaten. A maiden.
11th over: Essex 37-2 (Lawrence 5, Cook 19) Essex need 200 to win. A maiden from Gregory, some smart fielding at midwicket, pouncing like a cat on a mouse.
The pitch over five days.
Days 1 to 5 for the @CountyChamp Bob Willis Trophy Final, @EssexCricket vs @SomersetCCC #cricket #countycricket #BWTFinal #SOMvESS pic.twitter.com/PMqQtXzlqJ
— Karl McDermott (@Karl_McDermott) September 27, 2020
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10th over: Essex 37-2 (Lawrence 5, Cook 19) Overton seems to grow taller and taller again with every step of his 16 pace run up. It’s an intimidating prospect. Cook and Lawrence steal a few singles. Then Overton appeals with huge enthusiasm for a Cook lbw, his roared request finishing up three quarters of the way down the pitch.
10th over: Essex 34-2 (Lawrence 4, Cook 17) The floodlights come on. Cook, unimpressed by shenanigans, shaves Gregory through point to the rope.
9th over: Essex 30-2 (Lawrence 4, Cook 13) Essex definitely hitting a rather large lump in the road. Lawrence plays and misses, the ball a tissue paper away, then, static feet, squirts a streaky four through the slips. This game, my god! The one that never stops giving.
WICKET! Westley lbw Overton 0
Almost unbridled joy! Umpire Bailey thought about it but after a moment’s reflection raises the finger. High but straight.
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8th over: Essex 25-1 (Westley 0, Cook 12) A valuable breakthrough, if not THE breakthrough. The change of bowler doing the trick and Gregory continuing from his marvellous first innings six-fer. Smart little catch by Abell , crouching close at third slip.
Who would have thought we’d get to this point. Again, huge 🙌🏼 🙏🏼 to everyone who has made it possible - administrators, players, groundstaff, counties, media & supporters from afar. Still more to come next week, but savour this day 🏏 https://t.co/1Mxayif49W
— Alison Mitchell (@AlisonMitchell) September 27, 2020
Wicket! Browne c Abell b Gregory 13
The bowling change works! Browne pushes at Gregory’s second ball from the pavilion end, and is snaffled by Abell at third slip.
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7th over: Essex 24-0 (Brown 13, Cook 11) An Overton maiden, if Somerset can just manage a couple more....a bit of pressure will start to build.
6th over: Essex 24-0 (Brown 13, Cook 11) You know that Ian Bell cover drive you’re already missing? I have found your replacement - he’s called Alastair Cook. Absolutely velveteen shot off Davey.
Romeo on that frieze again: “The sculptor, Gilbert Bayes, lived in St John’s Wood, and was a very well known artist, especially in art deco. One of his best known works is the wonderful sculpture on the front of Selfridges in Oxford Street.”
5th over: Essex 20-0 (Brown 13, Cook 7) Overton powers in, tighter but no breakthrough, just one off the over.
4th over: Essex 19-0 (Brown 13, Cook 6) Cook and Browne sprinting between the wickets, eager as kittens with a lacy cardigan. We’re trying to think of a batsman better designed for this situation than Cook. We can’t.
3rd over: Essex 16-0 (Brown 12, Cook 4) Overton is bowling fast, but Browne is up to the challenge, two consecutive boundaries through the attacking field, through midwicket and straight back drilled towards the media centre.
Glyn Thomas on that frieze “Jonny Bairstow attempts to convince the entire England team that they should definitely review - even though the ball clearly pitched two feet outside leg stump.”
2nd over: Essex 8-0 (Brown 4, Cook 4) Davey from the pavilion end. Cooks pushes elegantly at Davey and it rockets all the way to the boundary. Later, a half appeal for a caught behind sticks in their throats. Cook is the one they want.
Romeo, how does he do it?, has found the details on the sculpture relief, though I like Wild&HomelessBooks analysis: “Great Moments in Cricket History #53. Potential England captains wait in line to be interviewed by the selectors ahead of the 1988 series against the West Indies.”
1st over: Essex 4-0 (Brown 4, Cook 0) Browne decides to wildly upper cut Overton for four first ball past the slips. A surprisingly sprightly choice. Lots of encouragement from the three slips who harry to the other end after the sixth ball.
Here come the players!
Overton to Browne....
DECLARATION! Somerset 272-7dec (Overton 45, Davey 16)
Essex need 237 to in a minimum of 80 overs. Or rather, Somerset need to bowl them out for less - a draw, remember, hands Essex the trophy. Game on!
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75 overs: Somerset 264-7 (Overton 39, Davey 14) Overton powers Porter for a huge six that crashes into the bill board inches away from the camera man, the over before Paul Walter somehow got a hand to another kapow at long-on, but couldn’t hold on. I don’t want you to think I’m obsessed with food but just having an early elevenses with a slice of my mum’s most delicious apple cake - surely the best thing in the world to do with windfalls. Also happening today, the Rachel Heyhoe Flint Trophy Final, which you can watch on Sky with radio coverage on the BBC.
72 overs: Somerset 240-7 (Overton 23, Davey 10) A slow start, apart from an elaborate reverse-sweep by Davey for four to get the blood pumping. Essex have spread the field, content with slow accumulation and the gentle ticking off of time. It’s as cold out there today as it has been all match.
There will be a minimum of 90 overs in the day with two overs lost between innings.
Start of play: Somerset 227-7, a lead of 191
Sam Cook finishes the last ball of his over left from last night. And the Lord’s scoreboard hasn’t woken up yet this morning, so bear with me..
The pavilion bell tolls, Overton and Davey shadow bat at the left of the pavilion, Essex chat at the right as they wait for the umpires
Meanwhile... any suggestions?
So confused about what is happening here pic.twitter.com/Tw8gVntCqg
— tanya aldred (@tjaldred) September 27, 2020
Preamble
Here we are, the leaves crispy, the flowers blousy and the men’s cricket season drawing to a full stop, the final day of this strangest of seasons. Best of all, the game could still go either way - Essex in the driving seat, winners if they draw, but Somerset, bowling attack unplayable when on song, still right in the mix.
The forecast is for light cloud until five when the dark clouds roll in- so hold on for an arse-nipper under floodlights with the umpire’s light meter on hand for added jeopardy. Fill your mug and join us, we’ll be here all day.
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