Somerset 2nd XI v Essex 2nd XI, Taunton Cricket Club, Day 2, August 24th 2021, Essex 318 All Out (Khusi 63, Buttleman 53, Beard 53, Jack Brooks 3/34) and 202/2 (Browne 102 not out) lead Somerset 123 All Out (Clive Gibson 39, George Barlow 31, Snater 3/18, Allison 3/22). by 397 runs with 8 wickets standing.
After the discussion on the Somerset Facebook group on Monday evening I decided to check out the statement that the match was being ‘played behind closed doors’.
Perhaps this was a ‘technical’ statement made by the Club adhering to the COVID-19 protocols.
The main gate was open and plenty of parking spaces were available. The ground was also hosting junior hockey and croquet training sessions making ‘closed doors’ impossible.
A cheerful “good morning” from Andy Hurry walking the boundary rope with Eddie Byrom and an equally cheerful greeting from Tom Abell (as he arrived for net practice) indicated there was no problem on their part with me being there.
The teams were using separate dressing rooms, Somerset the main pavilion and Essex the pavilion on the far side of the ground and the club had posted stewards at each location to ensure that members of the public were kept well away from the players and coaching staff.
At the lunch break there were no more than 20 spectators watching the game.
As for the game itself, Somerset made a brisk start to their innings through Chris Gibson and Sam Young reaching 86/3 at lunch off 28 overs. Disappointingly Sam Young only scored 16 before chasing an out swinger (again) and was caught at first slip and George Bartlett fell LBW (again) off Beard for only 6.
I don’t know what the Somerset team had for their lunch but I certainly hope it isn’t served before, during or after the T20 and County Championship games coming up!
Clive Gibson was bowled by Snater for 39 from the first ball after the break and then despite some stiff resistance from George Barlow (31), no other batsman made double figures and Somerset were all out only 14 overs later.
As mentioned before, this is a strong Essex side for whom Snater returned 3/18 and the young player Allison returned a good 3/22.
Essex clearly relished some more batting practice and, rather than enforcing the follow on. By the close of play they had reached 202/2 from 51 overs. The two successes for Somerset being Rymell bowled by Leonard for 12 and Pepper run out by George Drissell for 25. Otherwise it was one way traffic in favour of Essex with Browne (102 not out) and Walter (59 not out).
A long road lies ahead to save this one
