Somerset, 202 & 255, beat Worcestershire 179 & 195 by 83 runs.
The gratification for all Somerset supporters of a comfortable convincing victory was rightfully accompanied by a reassuring optimism of a better season than the relegation-flirting adventures of 2017.
But what was abundantly clear is that much tougher tests than this newly promoted Worcestershire side await. The visitors batting was paper-thin appearing overwhelmed by the challenge of a division one bowling attack, especially in these seamer-friendly conditions.
Somerset were all out for their overnight score meaning Worcestershire were exposed to the tricky early morning batting conditions and with a new ball to contend with as well.
In truth Worcestershire never threatened their target. Gregory’s two wickets in his opening spell seemed of added poignancy as rumours that he had been approached by another county – Middlesex – swirled around the Cooper Associates County Ground.
Barnard (again) and Josh Tongue provided some late resistance but 3 wickets apiece for Lewis and Timmy G with support from Craig and Josh Davey wrapped up a 20 point victory.
There was a slightly unpleasant taste to the fall of the last wicket. Renshaw ran out of an injured last man Magoffin with a throw from the deep when he appeared to pull the ball back with one foot over the boundary in front of the Andrew Caddick Pavillion.
At the start of a season that was to see much change in the future structure of domestic cricket, George Dobell, writing for ESPN CricInfo offered this ominous warning.
“For those of us who aren’t entirely sure what a Kardashian is, don’t recognise who the ‘celebrities’ entering the jungle are and don’t much care whether they leave it or not, it was a reminder that this great game doesn’t need too many gimmicks to retain its charm or value. If only those that run our sport believed in it as much as those that watch it.”
