Somerset enjoy one of their best batting days of the season as Tom Abell tons up, leading his team to 271-4 at close.
George Bartlett also continued his run of form with 62. The four wickets shared around between Northants’ five main bowlers and the most crucial wicket being taken by a run out-that of Abell.
That man Abell won another home toss and this time elected to bat first, Somerset with one change: Josh Davey, Lewis Goldsworthy and Lewis Gregory all passing fitness tests after recent knocks and soreness clearly visible at Edgbaston last week. Jack Brooks out Craig Overton in. Northants saw James Sales out, Tom Taylor in, with Ricardo Vasconcelos still wicketkeeping as Lewis McManus recovers from a broken hand.
Tom Lammonby was dropped off Ben Sanderson at second slip on two, it should have been 4-1 in the fifth over.
No singles (or threes) in the opening 9.2 overs, both left-hand batters stuck at each end dealing in only even number scoring shots until the 57th ball of the match.
Imam-Ul-Haq was dropped in almost identical fashion, this time off Lizaad Williams on 12 at second slip at rib cage height. Both drops by Emilio Gay, should have been 25-2.
South African overseas seamer Lizaad Williams went for more in his first 10 overs (46) than in the first 30 from the other four bowlers used. No one else going at more than 2 runs per over compared to his 4.6.
Somerset, the last team in the Championship this round to lose a wicket, eventually did so on 49, Gay taking his third chance at second slip off White for 25.
Lunch saw the James Hildreth stand unveiled by Vic Marks to fans and players stood alongside each other on the outfield in front of what was previously known as the River Stand.
Soon after lunch Sanderson made it 10 overs, one wicket, for four runs: Gay taking the hardest of his four chances at second slip-Lammonby for 30, 72-2.
Bartlett notched another 62 to add to his hundred last week before Keogh had him caught by Young at slip, but not until after they put on 134 for the third wicket and earnt a first bonus batting point.
The Somerset skipper notched his fourth Championship hundred of the season off 164 balls, in doing so also passing 900 runs for the season. Abell was run out on nelson for 111, Lewis Goldsworthy turning down an Abell-attempted second run to deep cover. Lizaad Williams’ rocket arm not one to take on, 259-4 with 8.2 overs remaining in the day.
Young wicket-keeper bat and recent England Lion James Rew, again ahead of Lewis Gregory, comfortably aided Goldsworthy in seeing Somerset to the close.
With wickets falling all over the place elsewhere in the Championship, Somerset had one of their best days of the season yet.
