Second XI Championship Somerset Second XI v Surrey Second XI, June 28 to July 1 2021, Taunton Cricket Club, Somerset 256-9 Declared (Byrom 67, Davies 44, Baird 31 and 226-5 Byrom 107, Young 31, Davies 30) lead Surrey 96 (Leonard 3-20, Barlow 3-7) by 386 runs with one day remaining
After the completion of the Group stage of the T20 competition, Somerset Second XI have resumed their Championship programme with the visit of Surrey to Taunton.Disappointingly the ongoing restrictions due to the pandemic mean the match is once again being played behind closed doors.
Somerset Second XI Coach, Greg Kennis named the following squad: Steve Davies, Eddie Byrom, Sam Young, Ned Leonard, Kasey Aldridge, Sonny Baker, James Rew, Jamie Baird, Max Horton, Noah Davis, Greg Willows and George Barlow
A welcome to Noah Davis on his debut, another young player from the winter 2020/21 U18 programme alongside Steve Davies, tuning up for the visit of Leicestershire on Sunday and Eddie Byrom looking to reclaim his place at the top of the order for the firsts.
Surrey Second XI: RS Patel*, MJ Doran, S Gumbs, J Broad, GS Ealham, K Patel, SW Mead†, CJ Dyer, GS Virdi, NA Barnwell, B Townsend
No play was possible on day one due to heavy overnight rain.Somerset’s batsmen made steady progress when play eventually got underway on Tuesday.Eddie Byrom, opening with Steve Davis and clearly with one eye on selection for the First XI made a useful 67 before being caught behind off the bowling of Ealham.
Whilst wickets fell on a fairly regular basis there were good contributions throughout the order enabling Byrom captaining the side declared at 256/9 leaving 7 overs for the bowlers and how Ned Leonard made the most of that opportunity taking 2 wickets for 13 in 3 overs, including that of the Surrey captain Sami Patel caught by Jamie Rew for 5.
Building on the previous evening, Somerset’s bowlers dismissed Surrey for 96 on day 3. Three wickets for Ned Leonard (for 20) and Greg Barlow (for 7) plus two apiece for Kasey Aldridge and Sam Young saw Surrey. This highly promising young Somerset attack needed only 41.3 overs to complete their work and give their side a first innings lead of 160 runs.
Cue more batting practice for Steve Davies (30 off 46 balls) and Eddie Byrom who scored a magnificent 107 off 200 balls. The likelihood is that Davies will continue to open when the County Championship resumes on Sunday but the big question is with who. Will Devon Conway bat in the same position as he does for his country? If not Byrom has staked a claim to walk out to start the innings. The senior pair received superb support from Jamie Rew (22), Sam Young (31) and Jamie Baird (18 not out) which enabled Somerset to close on 226/5, a lead of 386.
Let’s hope the bowlers can reprise their first innings performance on the last day.
