April was the month for runs. May seems to be the month for wickets.
Thirty-nine wickets fell during the opening day of round five. This included 20 in the game between Somerset and Essex, with Sam Cook surviving the final over of the day, having just bowled Somerset out inside 42 overs. The home side started well at Taunton as wickets were shared around the five-man pace attack. Essex skipper, Tom Westley (43) was the only batter to pass 25, as wickets fell around him. Once Westley was bowled, Migael Pretorius mopped up the tail, taking 4-36 and Essex were all out for 156. Somerset were unable to capitalise on their fantastic start to the game as the pace pairing of Cook and Jamie Porter took five each to skittle Somerset for 128. Tom Lammonby and Andrew Umeed adopted very different philosophies to score their runs. Lammonby dropped anchor, grinding out 38 from 116 balls, while Umeed took the aggressive route, scoring 31 from just 37 balls. Both were undone edging to slip as Somerset lost their final four wickets for seven runs. With Dean Elgar stood on his bat at the non-striker’s end, Cook made his way back to the wicket for the final over of the day. A few scares and a slightly agricultural back-foot punch later, he survived. Essex ended on 6-0, with a lead of 34.
Luis Reece was the star of the show in Derby, making a half-century at the top of the order. Alongside Aneurin Donald’s 44, he helped Derbyshire to 189/8, on what was a tough day for them. Rain curtailed the day as honours remained even.
Headingly faced the same issue, with less than half of the overs bowled. Joe Root dropped his brother, Billy early in the Glamorgan’s innings. He went on to make 51 and anchored what little play there was. The miserly Yorkshire bowlers managed to contain Glamorgan to just 109/4. Spin came into play early, with Dom Bess and Dan Moriarty taking a wicket each and bowling 19 overs combined. Moriarty got Billy Root with the final over before lunch, caught at short leg.
The final fixture with play today was Lancashire vs Kent. Zak Crawley led the way at the top of the order, scoring a quick-fire 41, while all-rounder Joey Evison is 50* overnight. He lost Grant Stewart (45 off 58) just two overs before rain ended the day prematurely. Nathan Lyon found some success taking 2-42, but the pick of the bowlers was George Balderson, who got three of the top four. Kent finished on 203/7.
Middlesex and Leicestershire were unable to play due to poor weather at Lord’s.
