A hint of normality returned to the ground that was once the haven of out‑of-form batsmen. Only 11 wickets fell in the day, albeit one truncated by bad light, which means that a tantalising finale awaits. At the close Yorkshire, needing an unlikely 321 for victory, were battling away on 49 for one.
Batting was still a challenge in icy conditions and under a blanket of cloud. Somerset, starting the day on six without loss, were bowled out for 200, which represented quite a recovery from 24 for four. The captain, Tom Abell, produced the innings of the day to enable his side to set such a challenging target. His was a timely intervention for two reasons: it maintained Somerset’s dominance in a fast-moving match and it eased concerns about his own form.
Abell is a gifted young batsman, who was catapulted into the captaincy last April. He has shown that he has a sharp cricket brain out on the field, where he shows zest and decisiveness as he juggles his bowlers and fielders. But all that counts for very little if the runs dry up and the side starts losing, as was the case in 2017. In the end he had to drop himself, though he soon returned down the order to oversee Somerset’s escape from relegation – at best a character-building process for a young captain, at worst a trigger to try something else.
This season, like many other batsmen at Taunton, Abell has struggled but here he oversaw an important recovery with some crisp strokeplay, especially when playing copybook cover drives while making 82. He departed playing the only ugly shot of his innings, a wild swipe when he found himself alongside No 11. If he keeps scoring runs like this, the captaincy will not be a problem.
Yorkshire were handicapped because their back-up bowlers lacked the venom of their openers. Ben Coad, who already has 17 wickets this summer, and Jack Brooks (13 so far) caused early havoc, dispatching the heavyweights Marcus Trescothick, Matt Renshaw and James Hildreth, plus the newcomer George Bartlett, in the first 40 minutes.
Abell hung in there alongside Steve Davies, whose 33 was the equivalent of 66 in July or August. When Yorkshire’s opening bowlers were replaced by Matthew Waite and Tim Bresnan there was more scope for scoring and Abell took his chances deftly. Meanwhile Karl Carver, Yorkshire’s No 11 and a left-arm spinner, has had a quiet game. He will not bowl a ball in the match. He was unbeaten on one in the first innings. But there is always Monday.
Triple treat for Stuart Broad as Nottinghamshire take control
The rain finally stopped at New Road and Stuart Broad took three for 28 in his first game for Nottinghamshire this season as Worcestershire were bowled out for 110. There were also career-best figures of five for 27 for Luke Fletcher, who has had a happy return to the Championship after the head injury that kiboshed his 2017 season. In reply Nottinghamshire were 204 for six, with 50 for Ross Taylor and three wickets for Joe Leach.
Surrey hit the buffers at Old Trafford in the evening chill, finishing on 231 for nine, needing 59 more to avoid the follow-on after losing five for 29 in 14.1 overs. Scott Borthwick made 79. There were four wickets for Tom Bailey and three for Graham Onions, including Mark Stoneman for a duck. Earlier, Bailey’s and Joe Mennie’s ninth‑wicket partnership of 118 took Lancashire to untold riches: 439 for nine declared.
Only 28 overs were possible at the Ageas Bowl where Hampshire moved on to 241 for four against Essex with 87 for Jimmy Adams and 52 for Hashim Amla.
At Hove Gloucestershire folded to 108 for six, chasing 167 to win, before bad light stopped play. Benny Howell top-scored with 45. There were three wickets for Stiaan van Zyl, who had earlier made 44 as Sussex were dismissed for 204.
Bad light and rain also truncated the day at Lord’s, where Middlesex made 194, thanks largely to Stevie Eskinazi’s 94, with five for 49 for Michael Hogan and four for 63 for Timm van der Gugten. In reply Glamorgan were given a rude shock by Tim Murtagh’s four for 12 from the Nursery End, and finished on 38 for four.Leicestershire finished the day on 267 for five against Derbyshire at Grace Road, with Ned Eckersley 40 not out. Luis Reece took three 58.
There was no play for the third successive day at Wantage Road. Tanya Aldred
