Will Banton Bat Seconds to Victory?

Another day with substantial loss to the weather leaves the prospect of a declaration game and possible run chase for Somerset. The question is will that chase feature Tom Banton?

  • 2nd XI

Mike Unwin

Mike moved to Montacute (4.5 miles from Yeovil) in 1952, he started watching Somerset in 1956 and has been a supporter ever since. In retirement, when not at the County Ground or Taunton Vale watching the Somerset Second XI, he can be found, volunteering at the Ilminster Arts supporting the Stock and Sales system or in the Somerset Cricket Museum cataloguing the collection items and putting them online, on the museum’s website www.somersetcricketmuseum.co.uk

Second XI Championship Somerset Second XI v Gloucestershire Second XI, May 3rd – 6th 2021, Taunton Cricket Club, Day 3 Somerset Second XI 197/5 dec (Ben Green 74, Jamie Rew 70 not out) trail Gloucestershire Second XI 268 (Ned Leonard 5/76 Ari Karvales 4/48) and 100-3 by 171 runs

With no play possible during the morning or afternoon sessions due to what NV Play described as “a ground delay” or we simple folk prefer to call rain Somerset who began the day trailing by 71 and with 5 wickets remaining had little option but to declare when play eventually restarting at 4:30pm thereby sacrificing a bonus point (or 2) to seek a positive result to the match,

In the 32 overs allocated to the final session of the day, Gloucestershire scored 100 runs for the loss of 3 wickets; van Buuren caught Leonard b Karvales (3), Naish and Howell both caught Baird (taking the ‘keepers’ gloves for the second innings) b Leonard for 31 and 44 respectively.

So Gloucestershire go into the final day leading by 171 runs with 7 second innings wickets remaining. Let’s hope for a full fourth day and a positive run chase for the home team (maybe just maybe featuring Tom Banton).