Runs for Rew as Seconds Dominate Surrey

James Rew starred with a first-innings century as Somerset’s seconds dominated a two-day friendly at Taunton CC against a Surrey side led by our very own Jamie Overton. If the Somerset and England U-19 wicketkeeper-batsman continues his progress at this rate we could well see him in the first team after his A-level commitments

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

2 Day Pre-Season Friendly, Taunton Cricket Club April 12th & 13th 2022

Somerset 2nd XI 226/3 and 92/2, Surrey 2nd XI  150/9 and 5/1 – Match Drawn

James Rew (l) and Dylan Church before they opened Somerset 2nds first innings on Tuesday morning

Somerset Squad: Second XI Coach, Greg Kennis named the following squad for this friendly: Ollie Sale (c), Josh Davey, Ned Leonard, Marchant de Lange, Will Smeed, George Bartlett, James Rew, Josh Thomas (Academy), Noah Davis (Academy), Fin Hill (Academy), Jack Harding (PSPP) and Dylan Church (Exeter University).

A few more familiar names in the Somerset squad thanks to the returns to the first-team squad. Significantly Josh Davey’s rehab outside first XI cricket continues while George Bartlett was included following his shoulder injury. With Sale, de Lange and Leonard in the side Somerset fielded a formidable second-string bowling attack.

For Surrey Dan Moriarty and Amar Virdi, both with significant first-team experience, featured in a side captained by the much-missed Jamie Overton.

Day One: 

I’d love to know what was in Jamie’s mind as we welcomed him back to Taunton. For the younger of the twins it was a day he would rather not remember. Asking Somerset to bat after an uncontested toss, Overton operating from a shortened run he only returned bowling figures of 25-0 off 11 overs. Things didn’t improve when surrey batted with Jamie departing playing a loose shot outside his off stump to be caught behind by James Rew, for just 4 from 12 deliveries.

Jamie Overton – Miss You

But we are getting ahead of ourselves. The first session belonged to the home side with James Rew and Dylan Church batting through the first session adding 92 by the lunch break. How we would love their first-team counterparts to replicate that a couple of times over the next four days.

After the lunch break, James Rew completed his maiden 2nd XI century, scoring 112 from 177 deliveries with 15 x 4s and 1 x 6. Dylan Church reached 31 before being caught off the bowling of Amar Virdi. 

Bartlett only scored 8 before he advanced too far down the pitch and was stumped, again off the bowling of Virdi. Will Smeed replaced Bartlett and immediately took a liking to the off spin of Virdi batting through to tea to finish on 51 not out from 59 deliveries including 9 x 4s, before Somerset declared at the interval on 226/3.

The Somerset bowling attack dominated the third session of the day, Surrey closing on 78/5. Ollie Sale, in conversation, told me that his fitness was coming on well and was looking forward to getting more overs into his legs. His progress certainly showed, as he returned figures of 2-16 from 4 overs. MdL also impressed with 5 overs and 5 maidens, with Josh Davey, Ned Leonard and Josh Thomas each taking one wicket apiece.

Day Two: With Jamie Overton being recalled to the Surrey First Team squad and James Rew being released (I am assuming for ‘A’ level revision) to be replaced by Jamie Baird, Surrey started the day 148 in arrears. Tight bowling by the Somerset attack restricted them to 150/9 at lunch and a no doubt agreed declaration. Top scorer for Surrey was Josh Blake 35 not out, Josh Davey (3-23) and Ollie Sale (3-28) both impressed again on day 2 as they ‘put more overs into their legs’.

Somerset’s first-innings lead was 76 runs. 

Somerset’s 2nd innings saw George Bartlett opening in place of Rew and Will Smeed batting at three second time around upped the tempo in a stand of 50 from 53 balls before Smeed departed for 26. By tea Bartlett had reached 56 not, when Ollie Sale called it a day and declared, leaving Surrey to chase 169 for an unlikely victory.

Rain quickly intervened allowing only 3.5 overs after tea, enough time though for Josh Davey to pick up his 4th wicket of the match,

A very satisfying two days for the seconds with James Rew again showing that he is a very talented and promising all-formats cricketer. George Bartlett, Josh Davey and Ollie Sale are well on their way back to full fitness and Will Smeed is looking more at home against the red ball 

For Surrey their strength in depth might not be as good as we are led to believe, maybe they need to make a few more signings! 

Somerset Seconds begin the full Second XI programme on Monday (April 18th) taking on Middlesex again at Taunton CC.