Second XI Championship Somerset Second XI v Northamptonshire Second XI, September 6th-9th 2021, Desborough Town CC, Kettering
Northamptonshire 244 all out (Miller 69, Mehmi 60, Goldsworthy 3/27, Pearson-Taylor 3/42) trail Somerset 2nd XI 448/6 (Chris Gibson 129 Lewis Goldsworthy 110, Sam Young 92 not out) by 204 runs.
The Somerset squad includes Lewis Goldsworthy and Will Smeed, both looking to stake a claim for the first team on Sunday, Sam Young recently released after his run at the top of the order in the One Day Cup and other familiar names including captain Kasey Aldridge, Ned Leonard and Chris Gibson.
New members of the team making their first appearance for Somerset Second XI are Luke Pearson-Taylor from Clevedon, Billy Mead who has represented Surrey Second XI and Harry Robbins whose club is Frocester CC and Clifton College.
The Northamptonshire squad included Ben Curran,,Josh Cobb and Gareth Berg.
Northamptonshire won the toss and elected to bat on day 1 but were reduced to 65 for 4 at lunch. Ned Leonard removing both openers. Wickets fell steadily after lunch despite the efforts of Miller (69) and Mehmi (60) with Northamptonshire reaching the tea interval at 217/8 and moving to 244 all out soon afterwards.
Goldsworthy finished with 3/27 and Pearson-Taylor 3/42 with Somerset’s openers Gibson and Greg Willows, 44 and 38 respectively seeing their side to 84 without loss by the close.
It is fair ti say that day 2 in Kettering was a lot better than day 2 on the north Yorkshire coast. Resuming on 84/0 Somerset’s batsmen dominated the crease all day, closing at 448/6 including two centuries and a third (hopefully) just around the corner.
There was an early loss with only three added to the overnight score when Greg Willows was dismissed for 39. Enter Lewis Goldsworthy. He and Gibson added a huge 166 for the second wicket before Lewis Goldsworthy departed for a wonderful 110 (159 balls, 18 fours). Will Smeed, the subject of much clamour among supporters for a first team debut only lasted 20 minutes in making 16 runs.
Gibson was next to go, for a superb, marathon 129 (270 balls, 16 fours), the virtues of batting time don’t change do they? Sam Young who heard last week that he has not been retained for 2022 by the club had added 68 with Chris Gibson and now carried the attack to the bowlers with 92 off just 126 balls.
Kasey Aldridge was the fifth wicket to fall, without scoring, but Billy Mead, keeping wicket in the absence of Jamie Rew) contributed 35 off just 41 balls as the lead went beyond 200 by the close..
