Plenty of runs on offer at Edgbaston and a draw looms
After two days of hard fought cricket in which the bat mainly dominated the ball, Warwickshire were 340 runs behind Somerset’s 498, with nine wickets in hand. On a true pitch offering some slow turn, a draw looks to be on the cards.
At the start of the day, Somerset were strongly placed at 327-3. The sun was shining and a strong westerly breeze blew across the Edgbaston ground. A few hundred spectators watched as the two Toms, Abell and Lammonby, began slowly but gradually accelerated.
Lammonby, 75 overnight, progressed to his 100 off 168 balls. Warwickshire’s short term Aussie import, off-spinner Corey Rocchiccioli, strayed in line and length and was harshly punished by both batters, but after conceding his 100th run, he obtained at least a little revenge by having Abell caught for 48. Lammonby lasted a little longer before mis-cuing a lazy shot off Ethan Bamber to mid-off where Alex Davies juggled and finally held the catch.
There were no more successes for the Bears’ bowlers before lunch, taken at 446-5, but in the afternoon there was a short spell when the whole pattern of the game so far was turned upside down. From 458-5, Somerset lost three wickets for two runs. Tom Banton was caught off a skier to give Jacob Bethell his first wicket, Archie Vaughan fell lbw to Rob Yates and Migael Pretorius was caught off the same bowler.
When, after a short stand, Jack Leach was caught at leg slip off Bethell, Somerset were 487-9. Whereas at lunchtime, 600 may have looked to be a realistic target, the last wicket pair set their sights on 500, but they were two short when Matt Henry lofted another Yates delivery into the leg side and was caught by Sam Hain, leaving Craig Overton stranded on 21. The home-grown spinners, Bethell and Yates secured 5-103, whereas Rocchiccioli only managed 1-104, a tough introduction to English cricket.
Warwickshire’s reply was a sober effort. Rob Yates was caught behind on the leg side of Pretorius for 17. Tom Latham joined Alex Davies and encountered some accurate bowling from Pretorius, Craig Overton and later, JackLeach. Archie Vaughan made a great effort to catch a fierce square cut by Davies off Pretorius and James Rew missed a stumping chance offered by Latham off Leach, but both batters
also played some handsome shots.
Davies reached his 50 off 109 balls, Latham soon reaching the same landmark off 95 balls and, at the same time, bringing up the 100 partnership in 30 overs. Jack Leach achieved some slow turn and maintained an accurate line and length, but his two spells went unrewarded. Archie Vaughan became the sixth bowler to be used and Craig Overton had a late spell in which he tested the middle of the pitch to little effect.
By the close, Davies (62*) and Latham (65*) had added 125 and taken Warwickshire to 158-
1. Whilst there is plenty of cricket still to be played and the weather is set fine, a draw looks to be the most likely result, which will allow neither side to close the gap on the Division leaders.
