Somerset 201-3 (Thomas 136*) lead Yorkshire 162 (Gregory 6-43) by 39 runs
The day we’ve all been waiting for, finally, and for me slightly unexpectedly early, arrived. Thomas Rew made his championship debut permitted a break from his A-level preparations. But Rew Junior’s first innings in red-ball cricket was twice delayed on another wonderful day for Somerset cricket.
First, Lewis Gregory won the toss and inserted the visitors, then in a devastating spell of artful fast-medium bowling reaped the personal reward hauling 6-43 before the middle of the afternoon to bundle Yorkshire out for what appeared to be a well below par 162. Then, when Somerset’s response slumped to 35-3 with Thomas’s older brother dismissed for just 8 (I think we’ve all come to believe that an irredeemable truth of cricket in 2026 is that when James Rew bats, James Rew makes big runs). Young Thomas would have been strapping on his pads when his elder sibling returned to the dressing room. Both like the rest of us anticipating Thomas’s first innings would manifest itself before the day was out in challenging conditions.
But the other Thomas, Josh saw things differently. Seemingly unfazed by the gloom and a surface favouring the bowlers Josh’s went thrillingly to his maiden first-class hundred, off, at the close of play exactly 150 balls with 18 fours and a six of Dom Bess.
At the close Somerset’s fourth wicket pair have added 166 in just under 39 overs, a remarkable rate of progress given both the match situation and the conditions for batting. Tom Abell, of course played a key role. We can only guess how much his presence helped Josh Thomas but the measure of Tom’s contribution clearly extended beyond the scoreboard in the last session. I long ago ran out of superlatives for Taunton’s finest so will leave you to fill in the gap as you see fit.
Of course, much remains to be done, and with a less than encouraging weather forecast Somerset may need some help from the Weather Gods alongside further significant contributions on the field.
But let’s take a moment to celebrate another wonderful day for Somerset Cricket.
- A debut for yet another of the wonderful young talents the Pathway is producing,
- A maiden hundred made in some style by a young opener, a little further down the pathway, who continues to impress in numerous ways as the season progresses,
- Another stellar performance from the captain who has figures of 11-85 in his last two first classing innings
And all on the anniversary of Viv Richard’s Somerset debut.
Happy days.
