Cricket 2019

[Alistair20000]

Lo ! and so it came to pass ! 65-8 FFS, scrambling to 103-8 at lunch !

Good partnership from Dom Bess and Van der Merwe following the pattern of Les Dawson and Ronnie Barker for Hants yesterday, but Somerset just bowled out for 142. No batting points and a 54 run deficit. Abbott with 9 for 40. Quite remarkable.

Essex stumbling a bit 3 down and Sir Alastair removed.

Mr Ballz just beat me to it.

 

[Colesman Ballz]

Well Somerset are not rolling over and having "their tummy tickled", obviously made of sterner stuff and have Hants at 10-3 after just 8.1 overs. C'mon bauys !

 

[Grecian2K]

Hants 40-5 now. Dawson gone for just two.

 

[Jason H]

We were 34/6 last night.

We're 310/8 now. BBC News has brought up his 150.

 

[donkey]

Vince just dismissed but he has taken this game away from Somerset. Probably the wrong decision to put everyone on the boundary for him to try and keep Abbott on strike yesterday almost as soon as he came in. It seems as though the first 15-20 overs are key in all innings so get through that and things should become easier but Somerset's batting has consistently not been good enough this season and I don't see that changing.

Overall if Essex see off Surrey as expected it doesn't make a huge difference whether this is a win or loss. Still comes down to needing to beat Essex next week which will be a tough ask.

 

[Jason H]

Gosh, Somerset motored off but have come to a shuddering halt, now 95/5.

 

[Jason H]

Abbott comes back and immediately takes his 7th wicket in the innings and 16th of the match.

If he takes the final two wickets he would be the first player ever to finish up with 18 wickets in an 11-a-side FC match (and 2nd best of all-time behind Jim Laker). Two other players have taken 18 in a FC match, but one was a 12-a-side match, the oppo in the other match had 16 players.

 

[donkey]

Having now seen next week's forecast I'll change my mind about this game not making a huge difference!

Spineless batting performance yet again, it's only the bowling that has kept Somerset anywhere near Essex unfortunately and they can't be expected to keep producing miracles. For once the opening pair put together a decent partnership and raise hope but then the rest don't bother turning up!

 

[Jason H]

Abbott misses out on taking 18 wickets by catching van der Merwe, but does finish with 17 and the best FC bowling figures since Jim Laker in '56.

 

[Greyhound]

Amazing figures from Abbott. We've been outgunned. The forecast for next week isn't great, and it will be very difficult for Somerset to get the big win they need. It would be horrible to see Essex clinch the title on our ground.