So that’s it from the penultimate day of the Bob Willis Trophy Final. Another gripping day of ebb and flow: Essex edged the 31 required to get the vital first-innings lead, before wickets fell, the fielders retreated to the boundary, and the lead was limited to 36. Twenty year old Tom Lammonby, in only his sixth first-class game, then played the innings of his life mark 2, following on from the innings of his life mark 1 in the previous match - fluent, rapid, cheeky. He was out for 116, one of three wickets that fell for one run, then the runs dried up and the weather closed in. Somerset have a lead of 191 - and the Bob Willis Trophy winner will be crowned tomorrow. Vic and I will be here in thermal socks and thick coats, see you then. Goodnight!
Stumps
The umpires remain in the middle for five minutes before they call it a day. And the rain starts to fall.
Bad light stopped play
67.5 overs: Somerset 227-7 (Overton 17, Davey 2) Lead 191 Davey is greeted by a turning spitter from Harmer, he doesn’t look entirely comfortable out there as Harmer finds turn and bounce in the gloom. But some relief from Cook, who he drives nicely through the covers for a couple as the lead limps towards 200. Jack Brooks may not bat because of damage to his thumb.
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WICKET! Davies c Cook b Harmer 19
An outside edge to Cook who plonks it into his basket.
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66th over: Somerset 224-6 (Overton 16, Davies 19) Lead 188 Umpire Bailey takes a light reading, but the metre isn’t playing and they stay out there. Eight over left in the day.
63rd over: Somerset 218-6 (Overton 12, Davies 18) It’s all gone quite sepia out there, as Harmer strolls through another brace, 16 dot balls in the last three overs. Feels as if Harmer could reel these last four through pretty quickly.
60th over: Somerset 215-6 (Overton 12, Davies 11) Overton survives a varied Harmer over of flight and dip. Davies combs Cook through extra cover for four, then another pierces the off side. The lead: 179.
“Hello Tanya.” Hello Kim Thonger. “As a Somerset supporter of many years standing I’ve been prudently hiding behind the sofa since Thursday morning. Is it safe to come out yet?”
I’d stay put for now.
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58th over: Somerset 207-6 (Overton 8, Davies 11) Overton, on eight, top-edges Sam Cook to fine leg where Ben Allison, 12th man, is waiting, waiting... but the ball falls through his fingers. I bet he couldn’t see that, poor kid. It’s dark out there.
56th over: Somerset 197-6 (Overton 7, Davies 2) Those trees peeking between the grandstand and the new Compton stand reel in the wind. It could be November out there, other than the leaves. Davies bats out a Harmer over and he and Davies knock a few singles off Porter.
That cracking Cook catch:
🤲 Here is that fantastic grab from Cooky and a fourth for @jamieporter93!
— Essex Cricket (@EssexCricket) September 26, 2020
📺 https://t.co/8EF4f6iTxo#BWTFinal https://t.co/qtewiC8BB2 pic.twitter.com/T75lczZOSZ
54th over: Somerset 194-6 (Overton 5, Davies 1) Overton cracks Porter high, wide and handsome!
Play pauses for a while as Aaron Beard is on his knees at midwicket. He crouches down on his haunches, as the physio applies the magic spray. He walks slowly off the field clutching his back.
52nd over: Somerset 188-6 (Overton 0, Davies 0) Essex!!! Three wickets for one run in ten balls - which buffoon was talking about leads of 300? Porter 4-44. Just musing that no catches have gone down in this match - some sensational catching all round - Overton and Cook in particular.
WICKET! Gregory c Cook b Porter 1
Super catch by Cook, both hands, high, leaping to his left, both feet off the ground.
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WICKET! Lammonby lbw Harmer
Two wickets in two balls by Harmer! Lammonby stretches forward and is thumped on the back pad. The umpire has no hesitation and a deeply disappointed Lammonby, head down, makes his way to the side of the pavilion and up the steps. A beautiful knock.
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50th over: Somerset 187-4 (Davies 0, Lammonby 116) The gloom is thickening overhead, the floodlights, floating low over the ground. In an attempt to up the run rate, Bartlett has a hopeful, but doomladen, swing.
WICKET! Bartlett c Westley b Porter 5
Bartlett nibbles down the pitch to pull Porter to mid-on
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48th over: Somerset 179-3 (Bartlett 5, Lammonby 109) Lammonby having the better of battle with Harmer, crunched through midwicket to the rope; then Bartlett smooths him through mid-off for another boundary. Both have bright, dancing feet. They scrag a couple of singles off Porter - the lead now 145, what will be enough - 200? 250? 300? Something low enough to persuade Essex to have a bash.
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46th over:Somerset 168-3 (Bartlett 0, Lammonby 102) Porter looking dangerous from the Nursery end as Bartlett eyes him watchfully.
44th over:Somerset 167-3 (Bartlett 0, Lammonby 101) Much love for young Lammonby from his teammates as he completed the third to bring up his ton, lifted his helmet and raised his bat. A kind of symmetry between Byrom and Lammonby’s first and second innings performances.
WICKET! Byrom b Porter 1
Ying and yang. The first-innings centurion departs, an inside edge onto his sticks.
Hundred for Tom Lammonby!
The third of his career, in his third successive match! What a wonderful innings of imagination and grace and off just 134 balls.
42nd over:Somerset 163-2 (Byrom 1, Lammonby 97) Lammonby draws closer. Today I have eaten: an almond croissant, and cinnamon knukle and a jammy dodger. Beat that!
Final session
Here we go!
Tea: 40th over: Somerset 159-2 (Byrom 0, Lammonby 93) Lead 123
The players hurry in to warm their toes by the dressing-room coals. Somerset will be very happy with that session, especially Lammonby who scored 85 in a flurry of boundaries. Time for me to stretch my legs. Back shortly.
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38th over: Somerset 155-2 (Abell 0, Lammonby 93) Just tried sitting outside, it is bitter. There would be no chance of reading a newspaper. The floodlights come on. As Simon. Harmer bowls the bottom corner of his shirt rides up exposing some of his lower right back. Give the man a vest! Meanwhile, Lammonby is mirroring Cook by batting just in his short sleeves.
37th over: Somerset 155-2 (Abell 0, Lammonby 92) Game on! It’s getting gloomy out there, but no floodlights yet. Ten minutes till tea.
WICKET! Abell c Browne b Porter 15
After a partnership of 50 in 47 balls, Abell turns Porter to square leg and that’s the wicket!
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34th over: Somerset 147-1 (Abell 11, Lammonby 88) Lammonby is a man with a September mission. He spits in the face of the Harmer’s reputation, nimble footwork, free flowing bat, bashing him through mid-on and midwicket for a couple more of those tasty boundaries as the church bells prepare to ring out around Devon.
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32nd over: Somerset 125-1 (Abell 3, Lammonby 77) Abell telegraphs his arrival with a wild swing at Beard, nearly slicing behind to the greedy slips. But Lammonby motors on, three successive fours off Beard , bish, bash bosh and he moves to within a dart of three figures.
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29th over: Somerset 105-1 (Abell 0, Lammonby 61) Essex needed that, Somerset almost giddy with how easily the runs were flowing. Touch of genius about the bowling change, at least in retrospect. Harmer follows up with a maiden.
An email arrives: “The latest of my dodgy feeds is wildly glitching and jumping around in time. Nothing new. We’re all accustomed to watching batsmen who have just celebrated their fifty suddenly slog through their nervous twenties without any noticeable jump. But I’m pretty sure my feed is jumping into the actual future. 10 runs, 20, 30. A mini-collapse. All while you’re grubbing around in the heartbreakingly mystified present. But more. Much more (if you want any tips for Sports Personality of the Year or the Christmas No.1, I’m your guy). And hey look, I don’t want to exaggerate but if you’re anxious about the global political situation, next Trumpober is gonna be a very tricky month indeed. Oh, and yeah, Essex win this.
Er, thank you Robert Wilson. I’m not going to think about October quite yet.
WICKET! Green c Cook b Beard 41
The bowling change does its magic. To Aaron Beard’s fifth ball from the Nursery End, Green prods and is relieved of his duties by the soft hands of Alastair Cook at first slip.
Updated
27th over: Somerset 102-0 (Green 41, Lammonby 58) Thats the hundred partnership in just 160 balls. Somerset cantering, as the wind howls around Lord’s, rippling trousers and bowing trees.
25th over: Somerset 94-0 (Green 37, Lammonby 54) What a month Lammonby has had! Carried his bat at New Road to ensure Somerset’s passage to the Final, now fifty in the Championship decider. He’s been utterly fluent too, two successive fours off Harmer, a sweep and a paddle sweep, completely confident with his high backlift and punchy style.
Neil Dobson has a Saturday afternoon question for you: ‘Harmer eats through his overs like a Labrador in a dustbin’, which bowlers do the OBO mafia think would:
a) Tear through them like a bear at a picnic
b) Snuffle them down like a pig in a warc)
c) Burn them to ashes like a dragonic plague
23rd over: Somerset 82-0 (Green 36, Lammonby 44) All change! Walter sends down an over from the Nursery End, possibly just to enable Harmer to try the Pavilion End. Green shrugs and sends him for another four, sweeping to deep square leg
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21st over: Somerset 74-0 (Green 29, Lammonby 43) SIX! Green steps and twists, lifting Harmer over the fielder’s head and over the rope. Then four squirts past Alastair Cook at slip for four. Harmer squats down on his haunches, mini battle lost. Cook, who replaced Porter at the pavilion end, is then sent through square leg for another boundary. Somerset going very nicely here, no demons either in pitch or from the bowlers. Yet.
19th over: Somerset 59-0 (Green 14, Lammonby 42) The good ship Harmer springs a leak runs as Lammonby eyes him up and with a swoosh of the bat lifts him over mid-on. Green joins in against Porter, turning him down to fine leg.
Lovely from Tom Lammonby again! He's raced to 42* and Somerset 58/0, leading by 22 runs
— Somerset Cricket 🏏 (@SomersetCCC) September 26, 2020
LIVE STREAM -> https://t.co/dF6GhNA901#SOMvESS#WeAreSomerset#BWTfinal pic.twitter.com/DPM7plYduW
17th over: Somerset 50-0 (Green 10, Lammonby 38) Look down and you miss him! Harmer eats through his overs like a labrador in a rubbish bin. His third maiden in a row. Lammonby is all elegance against Harmer, driving an overpitched ball to the pavilion boundary, another pulled to fine leg. That’s the Somerset fifty, up in just 101 balls. A promising start and what they need to force the win.
15th over: Somerset 40-0 (Green 10, Lammonby 29) Westley calls for Harmer, this time from the Nursery end, looping the ball in the chilly breeze, foxing Green who gets down on one knee for a risky-looking sweep that passes a finger-nail from the off stump and elicits many oohs from the Essex fielders. Green, playing with fire, then edges Porter just short of second slip.
13th over: Somerset 39-0 (Green 10, Lammonby 28) Porter’s walk back to his mark is a very measured trudge, his run-up bustling and busy. He strays a little and Lammonby, fluent since lunch, turns him off his boots for four, the second four in the over. Lovely stuff.
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10th over: Somerset 20-0 (Green 9, Lammonby 15) Lammonby feathers a boundary from Cook, otherwise Somerset are content to earn their post-lunch wage in pennies.
Geoff Lemon is in the seat for England’s third OBO against West Indies, where England are currently 48-2 from 7.2 overs. Follow him, complete with lockdown beard, or watch on the BBC.
After a well-timed smattering of rain during the lunch interval, the players are out.
Lunch 7th over: Somerset 12-0 (Green 4, Lammonby 8)
7th over: Somerset 6-0 (Green 4, Lammonby 2) Time for Harmer to have an over before lunch. A quickstep to the stumps; Green, watchful, defends, stretching forward, then gropes at the penultimate ball which billows short of the grasping hands of short leg.
“If Essex ends up winning this Trophy with their unflattering NRR of -5.678 (neat number nonetheless),” taps Abhijato Sensarma, “it would surely baffle T20 fans all around the world!”
Time for them to widen their repertoire! That’s lunch, with Essex dining happier, a small lead and the bowlers on the march. The hover cover moves into place - the groundsmen in wooly hats, huge football manager anoraks and tracksuit bottoms.
5th over: Somerset 6-0 (Green 4, Lammonby 2) Lammonby avoids the pair with a nudge off his ankles from Cook. Green edges Porter for four, which Porter follows with a huge appeal for lbw which enthuses the Essex fielders but not the umpire.
2nd over: Somerset 0-0 (Green 0, Lammonby 0) Porter and Cook on point immediately with a couple of maidens. Three slips, hands in pockets, Cook, Harmer and Westley.
Out come the players, Essex gather for a circle chat outside the pavilion. Green and Lammonby touch gloves outside the boundary rope, Green chunkier, Lammonby slight, they play shadow forward defensives as they march to the middle. Jamie Porter has the ball. Lammonby on a pair.
Innings close 120 overs: Essex 337-8 (Beard 14, Wheater 26) A lead of 36 runs.
After 117 overs of classic Championship batting, the innings hits one-day mode, Wheater and Beard charge at Davey but can’t hit the boundary. As Overton bowls the last over there are nine players on the boundary! A more than handy lead for Essex against a tender Somerset batting line up. A quick ten minute changeover between innings.
Lewis Gregory is clapped off the field, 6-72.
Updated
117 overs: Essex 326-8 (Beard 10, Wheater 19) Beard and Wheater dab at Overton and Davey, no more than that. Three overs left
Yesterday Alastair Cook confirmed that he is gong to play another year and also clear that were there to be a three group Championship, he wanted those groups to be divided into an elite group to raise the standard rather than three “equal” groups as has been suggested for a conference system.
“There is not the motivation of a few years ago but that was one of the reasons I am not still playing international cricket,” Cook said.
“I enjoying playing with this bunch of lads. It is just good fun.
“I was scared when I retired of just walking away because it is a big hole to fill. I have enjoyed hanging around the dressing room at Essex and trying to put in good performances in.
“It is a great occasion to play in any final, especially one which hasn’t been done before, and under the legacy of Bob Willis it is cool.”
115 overs: Essex 317-8 (Beard 5, Wheater 15) Overton, switched from Nursery to the the Pavilion End, dashes in and serves up a maiden. Essex happy to just use up time here - it all feels a bit like the calm before the storm
“Hi Tanya,” writes Finbar Anslow, “really enjoying the game here. I think what Somerset need here is a bit of encouragement, and what better than my band’s version of Taunton Town?”
What indeed?!
112 overs: Essex 317-8 (Beard 5, Wheater 15) Beard and Wheater scamper singles then from nowhere a charming shot by Aaron Beard, rapier square. This is the highest score by Essex this season.
A bit more bad news for two young men. Best of luck.
Worcestershire CCC have released opening batsman Olly Westbury and spinner Ben Twohig whose current contracts expired at the end of the season.
— Worcestershire County Cricket Club (@WorcsCCC) September 26, 2020
We wish them all the best in their future careers
110 overs: Essex 309-8 (Beard 0, Wheater 12) After an unproductive half hour, Somerset grab back the initiative, just four runs coming off the last three overs. Here is that sensational take from Overton, who has had a brilliant game at slip.
Superb from Lewis Gregory! 🙌 #WeAreSomerset #SOMvESS #BWTfinal pic.twitter.com/Hqqje6rUfX
— Somerset Cricket 🏏 (@SomersetCCC) September 26, 2020
WICKET! Harmer c Overton b Gregory 0
Another smashing catch by Craig Overton at second slip, standing in front of both the keeper and first slip and taking it in front of first slip’s face. Unbelievable reaction time.
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106 overs: Essex 303-7 (Harmer 0, Wheater 10) Essex grab the lead with four byes, 7.2 overs into the day. Porter yorked spectacularly, but his work was done.
WICKET! Porter b Gregory 13
Middle stick! A breakthrough for Somerset but too late to prevent Essex getting the all important first-innings lead.
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104 overs: Essex 298-6 (Porter 10, Wheater 10) Completely distracted as Paul Edwards has just opened a brown paper bag from Panzers in St John’s Wood and produced two chocolate brownies and two dusted knukle cinnamon rolls.
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102 overs: Essex 291-6 (Porter 8, Wheater 10) Wheater tucking into some loose stuff from Overton, two successive fours including a stylish steer to the midwicket boundary. Gregory tighter, but the deficit is now only ten.
100 overs: Essex 283-6 (Porter 7, Wheater 2) A couple of leg-byes nip for four in the opening overs. Overton nippy and occasionally leg side. The wind ruffles the the fielders trousers, with those at slip folding their hands under their armpits, others warming their fingers with their breath between balls.
Essex resume on 271-6 (Porter 5, Wheater 0)
Craig Overton has the ball, zipping in from the Nursery End.
With a flourish, the ground announcer welcomes everyone to Lord’s. The bell has gone and Essex batsmen stand on the grass just outside the pavilion gate.
Excuse me for five mins, I’ve just realised I’ve forgotten to bring any lunch and they’re about to shut the gates...
Playing times
98 overs to be bowled: Sessions: 10.30-12.30; 13.20-3.30; 15.50-18.00
Preamble
Good morning from Lord’s where the sky is blue, the wind is fierce and the conditions switch from Provencal in the sun to Arctic in the shade. The teams are out in the middle, Somerset have just done their morning circle time and are now stretching and leaping, a groundsman walks up and down the pitch with the roller. Play starts at 10.30am.
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