One for the Ages - CC1 Surrey at Home
By Grockle
September 22 2024
An interim summary of a game that became one for the Somerset history books. I had a feeling about this one on the morning of the last day and though I would leave it for Farmer to 'flow' over whether the end result was good or bad. He will eventually but I can't let it pass without identifying how important a game it was in the county history let alone the 2024 season.
County Championship - v Surrey @ Taunton Thursday 9th September 2024
As far as our Championship chances in 2024 are concerned THIS is the fixture. We are close enough to the leaders Surrey to be a threat but we only remain a threat if we win this game. With that in the bag we go to Manchester and welcome Hampshire to Taunton with eyes on the pennant. We lose this one and it is effectively done.
With that in mind, we go into this one with Archie Vaughan opening with Lewis Goldsworthy in yet another attept to solve our opening partnership weakness. A BIG ask for the youngster. The rest of the side is Lammonby, Abell, Banton, Rew, Gregory, Aldridge, Overton, Leach and our new Kiwi signing Brett Randell brought in for the last 3 games of the season with the loss of both Riley Meredith and Migael Pretorius to their national sides and then injury!! There mare those asking why we have spent this money with Alfie Ogborne and Ned Leaonard sitting in the wings but... let's see what he has.
Surrey have squad losses to England and have loaned out Amar Virdi, their off spinner, to Worcestershire so they respond by signing Bangladeshi spinner Shakib Al Hasan. They sign him, fly him from Rawalpindi where he finished a Test match against Pakistan on Friday. He arrives at Heathrow and they drive him to Taunton for a Monday start!! He'll play until Thursday and then Surrey will fly him out of Heathrow on Friday to Chennai so he can meet up with his national team to play in their first Test against India on the 19th... absolute madness!!
We win the toss and ask Surrey to bowl first so Archie's First class debut starts the game. Unfoftunately it is not a pairing for the ages as Lewis Junior is gone after 2 balls, bowled by Roach. Great start!! In comes Lammonby for the next of many games where he is effectively opening before the end of 5 overs!!. He, however is a more confident 'number 3' than he was as 'number 2' and looks good against the Surrey new ball attack of Roach and Worrall, both of who look dangerous. Archie looks confident and organised. There are times when he looks just like his dad, but he is also very much his own man. It's a promising restart, tyhe most recent of so, so many.
Lammonby eventually goes to the change bowling of Clark caught by Sibley for 21 at 33 which brings in Tom Abell and works with his partner to take the score to 93 for 2 at lunch. But two balls after the interval Worrall finds the edge of Vaughan's bat and Foakes takes the catch. A very solid and impressive 44 in his first innings as an opener is definitely a good start for the young bat whose first contract doesn't even start until November. Somerset are 93 for 3 with Banton joining Abell at the crease.
The Tom Banton we now have is a formidable player and he gets down to his job with his partner and the 50 partnership arrives at 143 in 98 balls, nothing elaborate, just hard solid red ball batting. The 150 arrives in the 42nd but 5 runs later on 49, Abell is found out trying to guide one away and is bowled by Shakib (we reckon his wickets start at about £25000 apiece depending on how many he gets). Tom's 49 came from 119 balls and prompts the arrival of James Rew at the crease.
The next significant moment is the Banton 50 which arrives off 90 balls (6 fours) at 174 for 4 and these two take the home side to Tea just shy of 200 by 3 runs. Rew has a solid 16 with Bants on 65. After the shorter break we see the 200 almost straight away and the 50 partnership arrives 5 runs later in the 69th. The two young men stand against the probing Surrey bowling attack and move the score to 250 and a batting bonus point which is shortly followed by a Banton 'Chinese' cut to move him past an excellent and much needed 100 at 255 (from 137 balls). They add another 7 runs before Tom Curran tempts Rew with one that reverses into the gloves of Foakes. This is a strong position for Somerset with 262 for 5 towards the end of Day 1. However, the new ball is due so they need to be careful to create a strong base.
It's a perfect time for Somerset to try and throw the position away, as they do. In comes Kasey Aldridge, out comes the new ball and we hope to see Bants boss this game on his way to a large individual score. Unfortunately just after they have moved the score past 300 he is bowled by Worrall for 132 from 172 balls at 305, one short of his career best and every run worked for!! He has set the base for a significant score somewhere in the vicinity of 400 or even more? Well Kasey seems to be impatient to get on with it and he is bowled by Hasan trying to hit it into another dimension 2 balls after. Craig Overton is next in, and then next out, adjudged stumped going down on one knee to sweep Shakib... it's a doubtful one seeing as he is on one knee so it doesn't look like he is out of his crease at all 311 for 8. Which then becomes 311 for 9 when Worrall provides a good one to bowl the skipper. We've gone from the driving seat of 305 for 6 to 311 for 9 in 19 balls!! Jack joins Randell and they add 6 before our new boy is LBW to the Surrey new boy and we are all out for a disappointing 317 given where we were a mere 10 overs before!! We've let Surrey back into this one when we really should have batted them almost out of it. A Somersetian type of first innings but with good performances from Archie Vaughan for the first time and specifically Tom Banton in the role we have come to expect from him.
Day 2
Burns and Sibley versus Overton and our first look at the floppy haired Randell. Some question our need for the young man (recommended by Matt Henry) given we have Alfie Ogborne kicking his heels at the end of the season waiting for a chance. However he is here and will be keen to show his mettle. His first spell looks promising but he is short of a length (something that it seems NZ bowlers have to learn to deal with in English conditions, especially at either end of the season). He gets a bit of 'spicy' bounce to Sibley and is unlucky not to get a bit of a nibble. His first spell is 6 overs for a miserly 11 runs so it is certainly not a mess. However, the plan seems pretty obvious as Jack is introduced in the 8th over.
Randell changes ends but it is even more obvious when we ask more from our debutant as we introduce him as the second spinner in the 15th with Sibley sweeping Leach in an attempt to neutralise him. Archie has shown significant promise as a spinner as well as a bat but this is a big ask for a man in his first full team 4 day game.
Nevertheless he is the first to taste Surrey blood as Sibley tries to slog sweep him but only edges to Abell for 16 at 41 for 1. It gets better as he adds to his 'England bats I have dismissed' when he has Burns LBW for 21 at 48 for 2. Not a bad bowling spell for a starter. Surrey stumble past 50 in the 25th and arrive at lunch with 91 on the board with Geddes on 27 and Patel on 19. Jack has bowled 15 already with 4 maidens for 39. Meanwhile Vaughan has figures of 12 overs, 3 maidens 17 for 2.
After the interval the spin duo are back on and the Surrey partnership reach a 50 at 107. Geddes goes one further and records an individual 50 from 93 balls with 6 fours at 127. We break the slow ball press with some overs from Kasey for Jack and he looks dangerous. Meanwhile we continue to use Archie who has bowled unchanged. It is him who gets Geddes to top edge popping it up to Goldsworthy without adding to his half ton. 128 for 3. In comes Foakes as Vaughan registers 3 for 36 from 18. Jack changes ends and they give the young man a breather but only for a short spell. Patel brings up the 150 and his own individual 50 around the same time before we get a little bit of rain around 3:55 with Surrey on 169 for 3, Foakes on 11 and Patel on 61. That is our lot for Day 2.
Day 3
The umpires annopunce that they intend to gat back some of the overs lost yeasterday and there will be 104 overs in the day. Jack gets to work with Patel's wicket for 70 courtesy of a looping catch to Lewis Gregory at 196. He also has Shakib sending a leading edge back to his grateful hands at 216. Things are moving and Somerset see a decent first innings lead in their future. This hope is extended with a close catch from Green off Vaughan at 220 and this gets even better at 228 with a 5-fer for the young batting allrounder when Clark falls to a great catch from Tom Abell (Vaughan's figures are 31.3, 7 maidens, 5 for 68).
To emphasise how Archie has taken to this game he then bowls Cam Steel without scoring, passing the outside edge like a veteran. In comes Roach to join Curran and together they take the score over 250 in the 99th.
To add a bit more variation Somerset then introduce Lewis Goldsworthy from the MT for the 101st and Curran's eyes light up as he takes him for 3 sixes to bring up a 33 ball 50 and move the score to 271. We revert back to the formula we have been using but the two Surrey men bring up a 50 run partnership from 54 balls and though Roach goes LBW to Leach at 281 they have the bit between their teeth and Curran wants to go down fighting. Leachy almost has Worrall with both the last balls of the wicket taking over but he survives and helps Curran move the score past 300 with 2 cnsecutive sixes, one of which Kasey catches but can't stop carrying over the rope. The visitors move into the lead before Curran is finally dismissed, caught Gregory bowled Leach for a 75 ball 86 with 6 fours and 8 sixes and an all out score of 321 4 runs ahead at lunch on Day 3.
Curran has dragged his side back into this game. Somerset's least favourite player is a hell of a fighter when he wants to be. Unfortunately he struggles to keep his perceived arrogance in check and loses the professionalism you hope he has too often. But he was good to watch in the middle. From our point of view, our spin twins produced a hell of a performance, sharing the wickets with Archie Vaughan finishing his first bowling effort in a 4 dayer with 37 overs, 7 maidens, 102 for 6 while his older more experienced partner Jack Leach provided 48.2 overs 13 maidens 105 for 4. Lunch on Day 3!!
And now we have a problem. During the morning warm up session, Tom Banton was chaired off the pitch after going over on his ankle. We had been waiting to find out what the position was as he went off for scans and such. He will have an MRI in the morning of the fourth day so he won't be batting any time soon so we are going into the second half of this game one significant bat down. We need a good afternoon.
After lunch Archie Vaughan and Lewis Goldsworthy (on a pair) walk out to start the reply and Lewis Jr is straight off the mark. In fact the first victim is Archie bowled by Shakib for a mere 3 at 8 for 1. It isn't much of a start though because Goldsworthy only lasts another 4 runs before Roach gets him again bowled at 12 for 9. It is not going well!!
Once more, Abell and Lammonby are in acting as a second opening partnership before the 10th over and Abell doesn't exactly improve the situation when he plays all around a straight one and is out with 35 on the board LBW to Shakib. Aldridge moves up the order to cover Banton's position and we are up against it He partners Lammonby to 50 but at 52, Clark gets one to come back in and bowls Kasey for 10.. Rew takes up the fight as the weather closes in a little. We would be quite happy for a rain delay at the moment but Clark has other plans and he has Lammonby LBW for 24 at 75 for 5. Just before the rain takes the players off at 3:15 and to an early Tea interval.
Rew is joined by Gregory when the sides return to the field at 4:05. The pair push the score past 100 with a misfielded four to the Ondaatje in the 28th over. Still a lot of the day left. There is more rain about as Lewis is forward to Shakib, but along the wrong line it seems and he is LBW to Shakib at 110. Then Rew edges one to Sibley at 117 to give the Bangladeshi signing four in this innings. Is he actually winning them this game we start to wonder?
Overton is joined by Randell but not for long as he edges Worrall and is caught behind at 122. We are 118 runs ahead as 'last man' Jack Leach walks out to bat. Looking up at the changing rooms, we see Tom Banton in his whites!
The Somerset pair put up a fight with most of the runs coming from COve but dogged and experienced defence comes in the form of our England spinner as well. The 150 arrives as Curran takes over the 45th There are 9 overs left in the day. Pulses quicken as Curran has Leach caught behind at 153 for 13. Now what?
Out hobbles Banton using his bat as a crutch and with Tom Lammonby as his runner and a number of overs to hold out. The crowd applause is massive and it is quite obvious that Bants will be doing little moving about his crease as he can hardly stand up let alone move his feet. To their credit Surrey play the game and do not push the disadvantage that the Somerset man obviously has to the short ball etc. Maybe they think the game is theirs but it is worth mentioning, especially as it is Curran bowling - not the most popular player ever to play at Taunton.
Craig is conscious of the position but is also aware of the need to give the Somerset bowlers something to bowl against. He has enough confidence that his partner will put bat to ball if he is in the crease and that is very much the case as the two frustrate the Surrey attack while bravely and sensibly surviving to the end of the day whilke also pushing the score to 195 for 9. The question then becomes will Banton be able to bat in the morning and push this score over 200 with the support of his opening bowler?
To see read the answer to that question click HERE for Farmer's review of the last day... I won't spoil it for ya!!
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:09:27:16:56:44 by Grockle.
Surrey will also be without Sam Curran, Will Jacks and Reece Topley - but they play very little championship cricket anyway.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2024:09:14:04:37:01 by Grockle.
Surely on present form and on our own turf we can deal with Surrey 2nd XI quite easily...
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
It appears that Indian Test batsman Sai Sudharsan, who payed in their last championship match at Trent Bridge, is no longer available, and they are attempting to fly in probably Bangladesh`s most famous cricketer Shakib Al Hasan as a one-match replacement. He is currently playing Test cricket for this country and after Taunton would be flown back immediately to Chennai to play against India.
But here`s the rub. Shakib is a former Bangladesh MP and is one of 147 of his countryman against whom a case has been filed for attempted murder during disturbances in his country early last month.
It appears this does not prevent him leaving Bangladesh. But it could be interesting to see that even if the UK allowed him in, would the ECB agree to his registration.
Do I hear the phrase - `you couldn`t make it up`?
It'll be like teachers in the Academy sutuation. You contract to the Academy not the school you teach in so they can shift you from 1 place to another... simple solution to a county with the squad Surrey have!!!
Oh yes and the money to be dissatisfied with their stellar cast of characters already contracted

Can't have Somerset even as possible County Champions FFS. The nation needs quick Bangladesh visas!!
Bash can wait for weeks & even Freddie can't get moslem kids into India but the Asian signing for Surrey will be there on mere days of notice next week.
I think I may be becoming cynical about the state of UK cricket 🤪🤪

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:09:08:13:06:10 by Grockle.
In saying that the weather gods might improve the weather.
The complete blocking-off of the Joel Garner Gates is another example. How much extra money does the Club thinks it is going to take by such miserable actions?
I cannot find any reference to away members having to pay £2 to sit in members areas at Taunton on the SCCC website (which isn't to suggest it isn't there), nor have I ever seen, or heard of, a visiting member being refused access to members areas at Taunton. Can you point me to the item please, ideally by posting a link.
I have never been refused access to a members area at any CC away fixture, although I rarely use members areas away from home. Neither have I heard of another Somerset member being refused access (except on one occasion, a decision rescinded within the hour, over a decade ago).
I would be concerned if Somerset are applying a different rule to other counties, and if you can provide me with the information on the website which states this, would raise it directly with the Club, as I hope you and others would too, as it is a facility highly valued by members of all counties.
Many thanks
Farmer
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2024:09:08:18:54:54 by Farmer White.
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Squad: Burns (c), Blake, Clark, Tom Curran, Foakes, Geddes, Lawes, Majid, McKerr, Patel, Roach, Al Hasan, Sibley, Steel, Worrall.
I see that despite Alec Stewart`s totally naive comment this afternoon on the signing of Shakib Al Hasan for this one match, the Surrey squad for tomorrow boasts six players with 183 Tests caps between them - compared with Somerset`s 44 caps (Jack Leach`s 36 and Craig Overton`s 8). I wonder why that is.
I see from Cricinfo that Tom Curran announced his red ball retirement for the sake of his mental health. One wonders how that might improve playing in Taunton for four days in front of an understandably angry crowd.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:09:08:20:54:15 by cricketjerry-mouse.
First I meet a couple from Germany, walked into the ground to have a look, said how nice it looked. They have never seen cricket played, unfortunately they are heading back home tomorrow.
I also had a chat with Surrey's scorer, nice lady, she also said what a nice ground it is!
Ground staff working hard on the ground today, they had heat lamps on the ends of the pitch.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:09:08:23:35:22 by Mike TA1.
Forgot the September starting time (it's only been 30 odd years!!) so we were one down before me and my bacon sandwich got in.


The side is
Goldsworthy, Vaughan, Lammonby, Abell, Banton, Rew, Gregory (who probably will not bowl it seems), Aldridge, Overton, Leach and new boy Brett Randell

LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:09:09:12:36:39 by Loyal of Lhasa.


If we add in hotel stuff and his wage of course that may considerably increase the per over cost. Hope it goes to 4 days. He does have a 5 day rest before the Tests start in Chennai which is better than the 24 hour turnaround he had coming in from Rawlpindi. Hope they made it worth his while.




Thingz iz looking up!!

Kasey then has a brainfart and goes next ball coming up the wicket, ran past it and is bowled. Why oh why oh why KA?

Also not sure Craig was out because his foot was down. Which side of the line it was well...
But this is idiotic batting from the back end of the middle order.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:09:09:17:24:58 by Somerset LaLaLa.


The innings started not so good, then very good batting into the afternoon. But what happened then, were they instructed to play like self-destruction pilots? I couldn't understand what I was watching.
Lewis Goldsworthy bowled by Kemar Roach
James Rew ct Ben Foakes bld Tom Curran.
James Rew was not out, attempted stumping.
Craig Overton stumped Ben Foakes bowled Shakib AL Hasan
Archie Vaughan 4 runs.
Tom Banton bowled by Dan Worrall.
Tom Banton 4 runs.
What will happen tomorrow, it is hard to foretell after today.
The last hour showed that Somerset not quite there yet but there is so much hope in those young players. Bit disappointed that Craig was one of the ones to lose his head ; he has enough experience.
I hope Somerset never resort to the corrupting of the competition represented by bringing in a player for one game. Four games is bad enough. If that’s what is needed to win a championship, you can keep it as far as I am concerned but it would be great to beat that sort of outfit sometime.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2024:09:09:21:09:44 by Des Platt.
Quote:dilly
I see on the website that the Club charge £2 to away (in this case, Surrey) members to sit in the Members stands. Is there no end to our misery innovations?
The complete blocking-off of the Joel Garner Gates is another example. How much extra money does the Club thinks it is going to take by such miserable actions?
In response to my asking where this was on the SCCC website, thank you for pointing me to the tickets sales page of the Club website as the source for the above.
I can see no reference there to charging away members £2.
I assume you must be referring to the new 'Member for a Day' provision at £20 instead of the £18 for a normal adult ticket. See here for the actual page:
[tickets.somersetcountycc.co.uk]
The 'Member for a Day' is a new provision aimed at attracting new people to the ground or persuading people to become full members. There is no suggestion it will be applied to visiting members. See here (probably from last year as it quotes a price of £18):
[somersetcountycc.co.uk]
I know one ex-member who used the provision and has since become a member again. I was also approached by one person with a child who had purchased a member for the day ticket and asked me if I knew where he could sit, so I assume was new or fairly new to the ground. It may therefore be having some success, although I have no idea how much.
Farmer
As for the last hour, the less said the better. So much intelligent batting prior to that time and so very little thereafter.
We would likely just about have settled for 317 at the outset, but really should have done much better.
Lots of work for the bowlers tomorrow. Surrey stuck at it very well and we will surely need to be at our very best.
Grizzers





Not many today packed the camera away because of the weather.
Ben Foakes, right from the start, didn't look comfortable at the crease. 11 runs from 63 balls.
Ben Geddes, how unlucky Jack Leach has been with his appealing!
Dom Sibley, yet another appeal turned down.
Rory Burns, off Archie Vaughan.
Dom Sibley, looking a bit concerned after playing a ball from Brett Randell.
What will the third day bring!
For all the good job that the spinners did , I was surprised at the under utilisation of seam. I thought that Patel and Geddes were becoming a lot more comfortable in the 40 mins before lunch and would have bowled Craig for a few overs then or certainly after lunch. Maybe it is the Kookaburra effect. Certainly our new recruit looked a lot less sharp after his first three overs or so.
Vaughan looks a fine cricketer and as I heard someone say yesterday , will probably make his dad even more insufferable.
Good news from this morning. Banton has been carried back into the Caddyshack after a footbsll injury at 10 am... more when we get it.

Surely just go through warm up routines and a bit of practice of the sport itself.
You don't see footballers warming up by chucking rock hard cricket balls at each other.
Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 2024:09:11:10:27:22 by Rod1883.
2 Hour and 10 minutes sessions today and 104 overs in the day to make up time.
Green is prepped to take the field so it looks like Banton is not starting the Third Day

KB

Sigh.
Not sure why Lewis is playing if he can’t bowl.
Grizzers
George may be back earlier than the Metrobankl 50 Final (unless he tells them to stuff it)




Ahh well they've come out about par. Had they not also been idiotic yesterday afternoon they might have gone into the second half in the lead but it is what it is I suppose.



Bants is on crutches and will have an MRI scan tomorrow

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:09:11:14:59:20 by Grockle.


Galling as it was, Curran did play very well.
I might be wrong but I suspect Leachy might be slightly disappointed with his bowling return.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:09:11:18:15:24 by Flyboy.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:09:11:19:01:52 by AGod.
I recall playing football with sprained/strained ankle ligaments - incredibly stiff strapping to immobilise it and on I went, although I wasn't a professional sportsman with vital finals coming up.
Seriously impressive commitment from him, redolent of James Hildreth's broken ankle ton a few years ago. Just hope he hasn't/won't further inflame the injury by trying to get us the additional runs, which have given us at least a sniff of a chance tomorrow.
Yes, Curran played well. It felt like we persevered with spin a little too long. Surely Craig would have been a better option than Kasey, when we did turn to seam. Still not convinced of carrying the Captain through the game, whilst seemingly unable to bowl at all.
We're still in with a whisker of a chance. Hope that Tom B. sleeps ok, albeit a great shame this must surely be his last game (hopefully just for this season) for us.
Grizzers
AH knows an awful lot more about cricket than I ever will, but it still makes no sense at all to me.
Surely there are other ways of achieving the same objective.
Grizzers
Interesting day tomorrow if the weather holds.
I returned home when it rained, returned when play restarted without the camera.
Tom Curran was caught by Lewis Gregory bowled by Jack Leach.
Kemar Roach lbw Jack Leach.
Ben Foakes caught sub Ben Green bowled Archie Vaughan.
Cam Steel bld Archie Vaughan. The bails are just lifting.
If we can add a few more runs by Craig and Tom (if Tom gets on the field) will give us a small chance..
Watching Tom hop on one leg was painful to see, we thought it looked like Craig offered to lift him off the field
We definitely have a chance of victory tomorrow...
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
I’ve ranted enough in the past about the stupidity of putting everyone back with a batsman and tailenders. It ‘s been said that bankers never learn from their bad lending mistakes but at least they are 10 / 20 years apart. Cricketers make the same mistake every year. Carry on with the field that has got you 8/9 wickets. Don’t tell Curran , who played well but isn’t Bradman , that you don’t think you can get him out and try to take a wicket with one ball per over.
Not a good position.

Here they are on the morning of easily the most important day of the season so far - and their highly-paid fitness coach learns nothing from past experience and allows his players not just to kick a football around but play an actual game of pre-match football.
Result: Tom Banton, their key batsman, scorer of more than a third of their first innings runs, and their main striker of the ball for the two up-coming bids for one-day honours, goes over on an ankle, bravely hobbles out when nine wickets are down - but will almost certainly not to be seen again this season.
Ironically, during England`s below-par IT20 batting performance against Australia this evening, Sky commentators were campaigning for Banton to be selected next time. They can`t have seen his condition at Taunton.
Most depressing of all, perhaps, is that there have been similar disastrous injuries to key Somerset players in these kick-arounds before. Doesn`t anybody wise up?
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:09:11:23:32:09 by cricketjerry-mouse.
I hope as many of us as possible can get there tomorrow, and if we do, make sure that we're there for 10.30. Every run, every ball, is going to be riveting. In three weeks' time we could be looking back on tomorrow as the day we won the Championship.
Farmer
If Tom B went over on his ankle and sprained something it probably had very little to do with where he was or what he was doing at the time. Not sure football had anything to do with it.
Playing contact sports to warm up for a cricket match is a point of debate. Equating the activity with the cause of Banton's injury may be a step further than the facts suggest.

If we do the CC1 penant is still within our grasp. If not, it's gone for another year. I was at the last one with little hope of it going our way. I start this one with more hope and a feeling that these days are what we follow this sport for irrespective of what happens.
I hope the day goes our way but if not I hope the day maintains my affection for the game of four day cricket and both sides make a tussle of it on a late season day.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:09:12:09:06:21 by Des Platt.

LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
96 overs to go people

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:09:12:10:23:59 by Grockle.
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Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Other news Shakib has been named in the Bangladesh squad for the India series which starts in Chennai on the 19th

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2024:09:12:10:46:13 by Grockle.

[somersetcountycc.co.uk]
Grizzers

Well played Craig Overton AND that Banton bloke

For the last two championship matches of the season, I`d move him to no.6, with James Rew at 5 in place of the unfortunate Tom Banton, and play Josh Davey as the extra bowler at Old Trafford next week, and Shoaib Bashir against Hampshire at Taunton for the season-closer.


Good also to see Will Smeed among the runs - 93 from 93 balls - in the 2nds` comfortable win over their Warwickshire counterparts at Taunton Vale.
Afternoon session is delayed
Underway at 1:20

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2024:09:12:13:11:35 by Grockle.

Minimum of 27.5 overs to bowl

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:09:12:15:16:18 by Grockle.
Archie's 2 year contract doesn't start until 1 November!!!!
How are the nails one and all?

One over of Cove worth a go?
Think these two may have saved it though but what a great game this has been. Real ebb and flow from beginning to end.

What a great result!
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
After Surrey had used every possible cynical move to slow matters down, and twice being warned by the umpires for taking well over the allotted time to get to the crease between wickets, their last two batsmen did win back some kudos right at the end. They went out of their way to seek out Tom Banton to congratulate him, when he hobbled his way out to join his celebrating team mates.
One of the greatest Somerset victories in my almost 50 years supporting
What would you call that field?
"You`ve gotta pick a pocket or two, boys; you`ve gotta pick a pocket or two."
Great days.
So not many photos, so I am going to mainly post the photos of the hero of the day Tom Banton. I must mention Craig Overton for his part in the partnership. Also both spinners.
Tom Banton hitting one of his fours.
Tom Banton second four.
Jack Leach continue to beat the bat of Dom Sibley.
Tom Banton resistance comes to an end, bowled by Shakib AL Hasan
WHAT A WIN!!
Just brilliant - I may struggle to sleep tonight. Hoping my back recovers in time to come down in a fortnight’s time.
Was Banton’s reverse sweep for four off one ankle this morning possibly the best shot ever played by a Somerset cricketer? Viv who?
Meanwhile I am wondering if Moore has signed Vaughan Again for Notts yet.


Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:09:12:20:05:13 by Grockle.
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Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
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Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Did anything much happen in the afternoon ?!
Listened to the closing stages on the radio. The tension nearly melted the airwaves.
What an astonishing result. Vaughan, Leach & Banton rightly get the hero worship, but as others have said, that was a magnificent team effort.
We even managed (just) to beat the weather. Top marks to the groundsteam as well, (let's not forget just how much rain we had in the four days leading up to the start of this game).
If the results next week go ok, Taunton is going to get very excited when Hants. come to town.
Grizzers
P.S. Love the photo of the denouement posted above.
''Surrey flew in Shakib from Bangladesh. Somerset brought in Vaughan from Bridgwater.''
Brilliant.
Grizzers

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:09:12:23:06:59 by Grockle.
Mind you, the only batsman who did try to break the shackles was T Curran, and it didn't do him any good, chopping on. He got an excellent send-off from the spectators too.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:09:12:23:27:56 by That Bloke With The Dog.
Put less simply, the following are the 10 modern professional cricket impossibilities which took place in the match:
1) A match swinging hard towards one team three times and towards the other four times.
2) All 20 wickets taken by two bowlers, both of them spinners.
3) An 18-year-old in his second match taking 11 wickets against the Champion County.
4) A team doubling their score using two bowlers and a batter on one leg.
5) Seven wickets falling in the final hour of the match.
6) A spinner bowling 37 overs for 37 runs with another bowling 32 overs for 38 runs in the same innings and people on the edge of their seats for every ball.
7) A team batting 190 overs in a match and losing by 111 runs to a team batting 160 overs.
8) 130 overs of spin bowled by the winning side.
9) Craig Overton didn't take a catch.
10) Someone ran across the outfield on crutches - would that be allowed at Taunton even if it were possible?
Farmer
It was a match, incidentally, from which the current Surrey management failed to learn any lessons.
Their overseas player, Hashim Amla was in Johannesburg to receive the main award at Cricket South Africa`s annual ceremony. Surrey paid for him to be flow back privately to Heathrow on the morning of the Somerset match, and then by hire car down the M4. Amla got only the second pair in his illustrious career (by coincidence in the same season that Marcus Trescothick got his only one).
At least, Shakib Al Hasan only got one duck at Taunton this week, and a five-wicket second innings haul for the five-figure-plus sum his four days with the county cost.
There will be a report, but I don't know when.
Tomorrow: All day family commitment.
Saturday: Edgbaston
Sunday: Waking up
Monday: Travelling to Manchester
Tuesday to Friday; Old Trafford
Saturday: Travelling to Nottingham
Sunday: Trent Bridge
Monday: Travelling back to Somerset
Tuesday: Answering the domestic question: Where HAVE you been?
Wednesday: Doing penance
Thursday to Sunday: Taunton
Monday: Asleep
Tuesday: Possibly
I'm sure people will appreciate the memory when it gets there.

I wasn't particularly nervous at all yesterday, as it never really felt like we had enough time to win against a side as good as Surrey.
I don't think Sibley was the problem, as he was playing his natural game, but the others shouldn't have joined him so early on. You'd think it was ripe to at least try to put some pressure on young Vaughan.
Archie looked genuinely unplayable to the left handers. I hope Bash doesn't mind playing in the 2s. We all know what Leach can do, especially when it turns, but the skill and perseverance to do it so consistently for so long is still impressive every time he does it.
And importantly, well done to the ground staff, these last 2 pitches have been absolutely excellent pitches, with plenty in them for spinners, but no demons.
Also liked some of the comments on Sports Live:
"Surrey lost to a one-legged batsman and a schoolboy" .
"Combine the two spinners` Christian and surnames and you have Bristol`s most famous film star - Archie Leach."
And "Get Tom Banton on one leg into England`s IT20 team against Australia at Cardiff tonight".
I think the problem with allowing Sibley to play his ‘natural’ game is that it puts the burden on everyone else to take the risks against Vaughan and Leach. If you’re a cricketer relying on keeping your contract, you’re going to think: why should I be the one potentially ruining my average and putting that contract in jeopardy, while Sibley chugs happily on in his comfort zone? It’s noticeable that the only Surrey batsman to try and take on the spinners was the one who doesn’t want a first-class contract.
Anyway, I’ll leave it at that. I do understand your point, and I don’t want to ruin a joyous occasion with an online argument about Surrey.
A couple of other things: Steve Kirby seemed to agree with you about the pitch, as he made a point of directing applause at the ground staff amid the celebrations. It’s so rare that you get spinning pitches which don’t either just get slower and slower or turn into a two-day points deduction disaster. A huge well done to the groundsmen.
And you’re right that the general view was that the game was a nailed on draw. Very little money gets bet on these Championship matches on Betfair, but that didn’t stop £600 being bet on the draw at odds of 1/100 at one point in the afternoon. I mention it just to emphasise how extraordinary that last hour was yesterday.
Quote:That Bloke With The Dog
Slow Left:
I think the problem with allowing Sibley to play his ‘natural’ game is that it puts the burden on everyone else to take the risks against Vaughan and Leach. If you’re a cricketer relying on keeping your contract, you’re going to think: why should I be the one potentially ruining my average and putting that contract in jeopardy, while Sibley chugs happily on in his comfort zone? It’s noticeable that the only Surrey batsman to try and take on the spinners was the one who doesn’t want a first-class contract.
Anyway, I’ll leave it at that. I do understand your point, and I don’t want to ruin a joyous occasion with an online argument about Surrey.
A couple of other things: Steve Kirby seemed to agree with you about the pitch, as he made a point of directing applause at the ground staff amid the celebrations. It’s so rare that you get spinning pitches which don’t either just get slower and slower or turn into a two-day points deduction disaster. A huge well done to the groundsmen.
And you’re right that the general view was that the game was a nailed on draw. Very little money gets bet on these Championship matches on Betfair, but that didn’t stop £600 being bet on the draw at odds of 1/100 at one point in the afternoon. I mention it just to emphasise how extraordinary that last hour was yesterday.
Yep - it's always a balance with scoring rate isn't it. I'm sure there's always a nagging doubt of "if I get out trying to be attacking, I'll get piled on for being stupid" - we've obviously seen with Bazball that being attacking has positives and negatives, just like being defensive does. I think this game backs up Stokes' point how it's much more visible when being too attacking has cost you (why did you get out reverse sweeping you idiot?), but often much less visible when being too defensive does (why did you let Leach bowl and bowl undisturbed until eventually he found the perfect spot one time too often?).
From our point of view, I was definitely happy with how they were poking and prodding all day even though it looked like it was going to work for them, as it meant we could just concentrate on getting wickets, while they let our spinners bowl. I kept expecting them to promote Curran to have a whack.
A Note to Farmer White: Do you think you could get out a little more?
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Therefore, I’m not all sure that the general criticism of the Surrey approach is correct. The ball turned a lot and I think it’s probably no exaggeration to say that Leachy beat the outside edge at least 50 times during the match (seemed like about 35 times yesterday alone!). They could have had a go at Archie, maybe, but they tried that in the first innings and two of their top order threw their wickets away in doing that then.
Realistically, I just don’t think that Surrey batting line-up good enough to bat in attacking mode on a pitch turning that much, without surrendering many wickets.
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Well done to the umpires for sending the Surrey 'glove & drink' gang back to the pavilion when they tried to come on just after 5 not ling after a change in bat. Probably saved 2 or 3 minutes of obvious time wasting.

It was pure theatre & the best hours cricket I have ever had the pleasure to witness.
4 day wins are tough, and the circumstances & importance leading to this win will live long in the memory.
If the next 2 weeks go to plan this team will go down in history & give an awful lot of true supporters more pride & enjoyment than and any other white ball comps put together.
"Come on my babbies, nearly there lads"
[farmerwhite.co.uk]
It was certainly a day like no other.
Farmer

Day 1: A Winter's Tale of a day: [farmerwhite.co.uk]
Day 2: "Awesome for an 18-year-old" : [farmerwhite.co.uk]
Day 3: "No! I'm not sure about this" : [farmerwhite.co.uk]
Day 4: A match like no other: [farmerwhite.co.uk]
Farmer
