Somerset fight back after poor batting show
Going into their final league game with 127 points, 13 short of the seventh-placed Hampshire, Somerset faced a tough task to avoid relegation. Their batting performance on the opening day against Middlesex only made their endeavour all the more difficult as they ended up being bowled out for 236 despite a solid start from the openers. Having managed only one bonus point with the bat, Somerset, though, put up a better show with the ball as they left Middlesex at 18 for 3 stumps, bagging one bowling bonus point in the process.
Opting to bat, Somerset got off to a good start as Marcus Trescothick and Edward Byrom added 93 for the opening wicket with the latter registering a half-century. However, spin turned out to be the Achilees Heel for Somerset on the day as Paul Stirling accounted for Byrom before Ravi Patel ran through the batting order, finishing with career best figures of 7 for 81. James Hildreth scored a fighting 41 to take Somerset past 200. But Somerset's innings fell apart soon after his dismissal as they lost their last six wickets for 30 runs.
The hosts managed to claw back into the game through a good bowling performance late in the day. Craig Overton dismissed Nick Compton for a duck while Jack Leach sent back Stephen Sean Eskinazi and Sam Robson in successive overs to rattle the Middlesex top order.
Brief scores: Somerset 236 (Edward Byrom 56, Marcus Trescothick 37; Ravi Patel 7-81) lead Middlesex 18/3 (Dawid Malan 9*; Jack Leach 2-3) by 218 runs.
In what is a battle for the second spot, with Surrey on 159 points and Lancashire on 156, the hosts gained an upper hand at the end of Day 1 of the County game at Old Trafford as they bagged two bonus points while the visitors had to be satisfied with one. Surrey though managed to prevent Lancashire from bagging an extra bonus point as they declared their innings soon after crossing 200 with two wickets remaining.
Walking out to bat with Surrey at 51 for 2, in what was his final first-class match, Kumar Sangakkara was aptly welcomed to the crease with a guard of honour. The Sri Lankan's stay, however, turned out to be a short one as he was dismissed for 14 and was among several Surrey top-order batsmen who fell after promising starts. An unbeaten 56 by No. 7 batsmen Sam Curran helped Surrey past 200 before they declared at 201 for 8.
Lancashire openers Alex Davies and Rob Jones survived a tricky nine-over period in the final session, remaining unbeaten to take their team to 17 for 0 at stumps.
Brief scores: Surrey 201/8 decl. (Sam Curran 56*, Scott Borthwick 30; Saqib Mahmood 4-50) lead Lancashire 17/0 (Alex Davies 10*) by 184 runs.
Having secured the Division One title in the earlier round, Essex stuttered in the final round of the County games and were in danger of being bowled out below 200 before an aggressive fifty from Simon Harmer helped them to a total of some respectability. Ben Coad did the early damage while Jack Brooks and Steven Patterson ensured that the momentum remained with Yorkshire as they struck at regular intervals to end the day with three wickets apiece and bowl Essex out for 227.
Asked to bat, Essex were off to a steady start with Varun Chopra and Nick Browne adding 39 for the opening wicket before Coad ended the partnership by dismissing Chopra. A short while later, Tom Westley - an Ashes hopeful - was struck on his right hand by a short delivery from Patterson, gloving it to Adam Lyth at second slip, and the England number three left the field in a lot of pain. Westley, who left the field in a hurry and sprinted to the physio's room, would have heaved a sigh of relief as it was later confirmed that he suffered a minor bruising.
Meanwhile, a collapse ensued and Essex were reduced to 80 for 5. While the lower-order batsmen came up with a better effort, Essex continued to lose wickets before rain intervened and forced early tea. Soon after play resumed, Harmer registered a counter-attacking half-century to help Essex fight back in the final session. He added 39 runs for the ninth wicket with Neil Wagner before Karl Carver picked up the last two wickets. Bad light forced early stumps, leaving Yorkshire waiting until Day 2 to begin their reply.
Brief scores: Essex 184/8 (Ryan ten Doeschate 30, Nick Browne 29; Steven Patterson 3-38, Jack Brooks 3-45) vs Yorkshire.
Persistent rain washed out the opening day's play between Warwickshire and Hampshire at Edgbaston without a single ball being bowled. If they finish with 12 points from the game, it will help Hampshire dodge relegation while a failure to do so would leave their future hinging on Somerset's progress in their game against Middlesex.
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