Somerset v Nottinghamshire, County Championship Division One, CACG Taunton, 19th to 22nd April 2024
Day 2 Somerset 454 (Overton 95*, Banton 83) lead Notts 193 & 38-1 by 223 runs
The left over humble pie might have to stay uneaten for a day or two. Today’s word of the day is definitely VINDICATED. As a lifelong Somerset supporter there are a large number of players I have seen represent the county who have been big personal favourites and fortunately very few arty the other end of the scale. Of the current side Tom Banton and Craig Overton are right up there in my list of all time favourites so for them both to “have a day” and put their side into a commanding position is as good as it gets.
One of the many joys of doing the Somerset Podcast is that, on the rare occasion I am proven right the evidence is there for all to hear. Before the season started I believed that Tom Blanton should be given an extended run in the Championship side in this first block of four day games. He showed glimpses of what might be at Canterbury but today he was in full bloom. Not only did he bat beautifully but he also made a contribution when his side needed them. I couldn’t be more pleased for him.
When Banton joined Josh Davey Somerset were 170-4 still 23 behind Notts and looking like the big first innings lead we had all dreamed of on Friday evening was now a very distant possibility. By the time he departed Somerset had added 144 with Davey, Gregory and Rew all dismissed before him. While it was still not a match winning position the game had shifted significantly back towards the Westcountrymen.
Thereafter Craig Overton batted superbly adding 139 with Migael Pretorious for the 9th wicket and metaphorically treading an already dispirited Nottinghamshire side deeper I to the dirt. Pretorious’ 77 at better than a run a ball was a (slightly) unexpected delight and a great way to introduce yourself to the Taunton faithful.
But it was the immense Craig who was the star of the day. This was a typical Craig innings in terms of power and aggression but sprinkled with control and maturity. Bat like this all season and his second career hundred and first for 8 years will arrive.
But there were two moments in his innings that made the biggest impression on me, neither having anything g to do with bat meeting ball. The first was his lingering glance to the Somerset skies when he read he’d his 50, a touching moment and a lovely time to have a moment with his recently deceased grandfather.
The second was when the final wicket of the Somerset innings fell. Stranded on 95 he would have been allowed a moment of anger. But instead he sprinted off, clearly intent on shifting into bowling mode. Shoain Bashir, clearly crestfallen and not being able to see his partner into three figures would have felt better for that. The Notts batsmen not so much.
Haseen Hameed, a captain very much under early season pressure saw his side to the close but Somerset picked up the other opener, Ben Slater victim of yet another of Somerset’s plethora off all-rounders.
Tomorrow will be a case of patience for the bowlers but Notts best hope is to still be batting at the close with at best a hundred run advantage. I suspect that Craig Overton, Lewis Gregory and co will have something to say on that though and with Shoaib Bashir’s reassuring presence the visitors will have to earn any foothold in the game on day 3.
