Somerset v Essex
Specsavers County Championship
Monday 23 September – Thursday 26 September
The Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton
Somerset Team: Murali Vijay, Steve Davies (wk), Tom Abell (c), James Hildreth, Tom Banton, George Bartlett, Lewis Gregory, Dom Bess, Craig Overton, Roelof van der Merwe, Jack Leach
Essex Team: Nick Browne, Alastair Cook, Tom Westley, Dan Lawrence, Ravi Bopara, Ryan ten Doeschate (c), Adam Wheater (wk), Simon Harmer, Aron Nijjar, Jamie Porter, Sam Cook
Toss: Somerset won the toss and elected to bat first.
Umpires: Robert Bailey & Alexander Wharf
Result: Match Drawn
Essex crowned Specsavers County Championship Champions 2019
Day Four: Reaction – Ryan ten Doeschate
Day Four: Close of Play Report
ESSEX ARE CHAMPIONS!
Ryan ten Doeschate’s men successfully battled through a nervous last day to gain the draw they needed to lift the 2019 title but there were a lot of twists and turns along the way.
Alastair Cook needed to show his resolve and textbook technique on a pitch that took prolific turn from the start of the match. He scored 53 out of 141 in his side’s first innings and was unbeaten on 30, when the match ended to leave Essex as Champions!
A match in which the weather played a significant part, when approximately 250 overs were lost, progressed into a most exciting climax although Essex supporters might not have appreciated the dramatic events after tea.
At that stage Essex were 118-4 and seemingly heading towards the draw they needed but in amazing fashion, they lost six wickets in 32 balls for just 15 runs to the spin twin threat offered by Jack Leach and Roelof van der Merwe who shared the remaining six wickets as Essex were bowled out for 141.
Needing victory to snatch the title from their opponents, Somerset forfeited their second innings leaving Essex 63 runs to win with more than an hour in the game spare.
However, the turn and prodigious spin enjoyed by the two home spinners, plus Dom Bess was counteracted by the pragmatic resilience offered by Nick Browne and Cook who survived 17 overs whilst adding 38 runs before they were eventually parted.
But by then Somerset were ready to accept the runners-up spot and after one more over, the teams shook hands on a draw leaving Essex to celebrate their second title in a week after their success in the Vitality Blast last Saturday.
A delayed start until midday had cost Somerset vital overs but a stand of 67 between Cook and Tom Westley carried the total to 102 before their liaison ended as Leach took the first of his five wickets with the dismissal of Cook.
His removal began a rapid decline as the remaining eight wickets fell in 19 overs for 39 runs including that of Westley who had played with a maturity to score 36 that spanned two and a quarter hours before he edged van der Merwe to slip.
As the wickets fell, the belief that the home side could pull off a stunning victory was apparent and only increased with as many as seven fielders plus the wicket-keeper crowding around the bat. Only Adam Wheater of the remaining batsman managed to reach double figures as wickets tumbled with Leach and van der Merwe causing mayhem.
Three wickets fell in seven balls to leave Essex 126 for seven whilst the last three wickets tumbled in just seven balls for 15 runs, and it was no surprise when Somerset captain Tom Abell opted to forfeit his side’s second innings before allowing his spin trio loose once again.
But against the mastery of Cook, superbly supported by Browne, Somerset were unable to make the inroads the hosts anticipated.
When the last hour started with a minimum of 16 overs to be bowled, Essex were 1 without loss and despite the presence of the eight men still around the bat, the balance gradually swung away from Somerset as Cook and Browne took root.
There was just one over of the minimum allocation remaining when Browne edged to slip for 10 but after one further over, Abell gave up the chase leaving Cook and Westley punching the air in delight having secured the draw that Essex needed to lift their second Championship title in three years.
Day Four: Tea Report
Alastair Cook contributed a half-century and Tom Westley an unbeaten 32 to take Essex to within the cusp of a draw against Somerset that would give them their second County Championship title in three years.
At tea, Essex were 118 for 4 with a minimum of 19 overs remaining in the title decider.
Essex had started the afternoon session on 36 for 1 but Cook and Westley addressed the threat offered by the trio of spinners employed by the West Country outfit. Both became more comfortable at the crease to post a half-century stand spanning 21 overs that also importantly used up valuable time.
There was also a couple of overs lost due to a short sharp shower as Essex moved steadily on towards safety and the title.
The vigilant and careful Cook arrived at his half-century with the seventh boundary of his 147 ball innings with a drive through mid-wicket that also brought the total into three figures.
However, having acknowledged the warm appreciation of his teammates and many Essex supporters in the crowd, he was caught at short-leg off the next delivery to give Jack Leach the first of his two wickets.
With seven men and the wicket-keeper around the bat, Dan Lawrence was also quickly removed, caught by Craig Overton at short gully without score off Leach.
With fielders crowding around the bat, Westley played with some confidence whilst Ravi Bopara survived for 18 minutes before he pushed forward and was caught at silly mid-off for a single to leave the visitors 111 for 4.
Westley though remained resilient and at tea, he had batted just short of two hours for 32 out of 118 for 4 and he will resume with Ryan ten Doeschate who has still to get off the mark.
Day Four: Lunch Report
Just 12 overs were possible before lunch at Taunton on the final day of the season where Essex moved from their overnight 25 for 0 onto 36 for 1 with Nick Browne the man dismissed for 18.
Rain, that had caused the third day to be totally washed out, had prevented a start until midday and with the floodlights on, spinner Roelof van der Merwe bowled the opening over merely to allow fellow spinners Jack Leach and Dom Bess to switch ends.
Against a close-set field, two maiden overs marked the commencement of play as Browne defended the first over before Alastair Cook played out Leach’s first six balls of the day. Then the rain returned briefly to interrupt the match for another couple of overs.
Upon the restart and facing Bess, Browne collected the first run of the day and the first since tea on day two when the weather had forced the players off the field. Then Cook added to his score, moving from 5 to nine with a sweep to the boundary.
There were a number of leg before wicket appeals, none of which impressed umpires Rob Bailey or Alex Wharf as Browne and Cook survived, often uncomfortably, the first ten overs of the day, with Cook having scored 8 from 33 balls and his opening partner 2 from 27 deliveries.
But Somerset were to find the breakthrough at the end of the next over with the score on 35 when Browne reached forward against Bess and was caught by James Hildreth at silly mid-off. That brought Tom Westley to the crease but he was only in the middle for an over and had still to get off the mark when rain swept across the ground taking the players to an early lunch.
Cook will resume on 14 having faced 64 balls and Essex will have a minimum of 58 overs after lunch to avoid defeat in order to clinch the Championship title.
Day Three: Close of Play Report
The weather ruined any hope of play at Taunton where not a ball was bowled on the penultimate day of the County Championship season.
A series of pitch inspections failed to bring any on-field action apart from the sight of umpires Rob Bailey and Alex Wharf coming and going.
Overnight and early morning rain left the outfield wet and a delayed start was announced and following a midday inspection, an early lunch was taken with a further look at conditions planned for 1:10pm.
The weather continued to intervene and rain accompanied the officials off the field by the time their third inspection of the day had taken place at 2:30pm when an early tea was announced.
However, rain was always hovering around occasionally offering a further dampening to the Taunton Ground and it was no surprise when after the 4:30pm examination play was abandoned for the day.
When play does restart, Essex will resume on 25 without loss in reply to Somerset’s first innings score of 203 all out.
Day Three: Tea Report
Not a ball has yet been bowled on Day Three at Taunton.
After play was washed out in the morning, an early lunch was scheduled with a pitch inspection planned for 1:10 pm but with rain falling, a further look at conditions was arranged for 2:30pm.
However, the damp underfoot conditions deteriorated still further with heavy rain before that eased and eventually stopped.
Umpires Rob Bailey and Alex Wharf made their way to the middle with their umbrellas for company and which proved useful implements for prodding the outfield to determine the level of saturation. But before long, their use took on a more familiar feature being unfurled to protect the officials from the rain that had now re-commenced as they made their way back to the pavilion.
The result of the inspection was that an early tea would be taken at 3pm.
Day Three: Lunch Report
There was no play before lunch at Taunton where Essex were 25 without loss in reply to Somerset’s first innings total of 203 all out in their title clash.
Heavy overnight rain, that had ceased by 9am then returned intermittently to ensure a delayed start because of a wet outfield with the umpires deciding to inspect at 11am.
The umpires were not happy with the outfield and decided to inspect again at 12pm. But before the second inspection of the day could be undertaken, the weather closed in to leave the playing areas that were not covered extremely wet thus cancelling the scheduled inspection.
An early lunch was taken at 12:40pm with an intended inspection scheduled to take place at 1:20pm.
Day Two: Close of Play Report
Needing only to avoid defeat to Somerset at Taunton, Essex were 25 without loss in reply to the home side’s 203 all out when rain prevented any play after tea leaving the visitors two days to deny their opponent’s title aspirations.
So far, the weather has played an important part in this title decider with 116 overs of play lost in the game so far.
The visitors were able to extend their lead at the head of Division One to 14 points by the conclusion of the home side’s innings that then left openers Nick Browne and Alastair Cook with 40 minutes batting before tea.
With survival the prime target, both survived the 11 overs that were possible although Browne did help himself to a trio of boundaries amongst his 16 runs whilst the ever-watchful Cook was 5 not out.
The rain brought an early conclusion to proceedings and also accounted for a delayed start by 90 minutes before Somerset resumed on 75-4.
Simon Harmer took 6 balls to remove George Bartlett but it was Sam Cook who clinched a second bowling point when he trapped Lewis Gregory in the crease for 17 after the all-rounder had plundered four boundaries in one over from Harmer.
Lunch was taken on 126-6 but three balls into the next session, Harmer claimed Tom Abell for 45 with a well-flighted delivery. By the end of the over, the bowler had completed his tenth 5-fer of the summer when Craig Overton failed to pick the quicker ball and was struck on the pads.
That brought Roelof van der Merwe to the crease and he immediately swept Harmer for two sixes to carry the score onto 144 when Cook claimed the visitors third bowling point when uprooting the middle stump of Dom Bess.
Hopes of an immediate conclusion to the Cidermen’s innings proved ill-founded as they were frustrated by van der Merwe and Jack Leach in a last-wicket liaison that brought a batting point for the home side and a 59 runs stand spanning 12 overs.
Leach took successive fours off Harmer down to third man before van der Merwe clobbered sixes when facing Aron Nijjar and Harmer, the second of which brought the total past 200.
Nijjar ended the jollities of the pair when he breached van der Merwe’s intended reverse sweep to end a lively 60 runs innings whilst Leach was left 11 not out.
Cook ended with 4 for 26 and the relentless Harmer who bowled unchanged sending down 27 overs, of which 5 were maidens, taking 5 for 105.
Day Two: Tea Report
Faced with 11 overs before tea, Essex openers Nick Browne and Alastair Cook reached the interval unscathed with the visitors 25 without loss in reply to Somerset’s first innings score of 203 all out. Browne was unbeaten on 16 and Cook 5 not out.
The home side needing victory to deny Essex their second Championship title in three years, were sustained by a belligerent 60 in 51 balls from Roelof van der Merwe who arrived at the crease with his side struggling on 130-8 after they had lost two early wickets for the addition of just 4 runs to their lunch score.
Inevitably, it was Simon Harmer who played a prominent part starting with his third ball of the post-lunch session when he beat Tom Abell in flight and then turn.
Abell departed for 45 and three balls later, Harmer produced a quicker and flatter delivery to have Craig Overton trapped in the crease for a duck. It was the fifth wicket of the innings for the South African and the tenth occasion this season he has bagged a Championship 5-fer.
The arrival of van der Merwe though invigorated the West Country side as he opted to produce the long-handle approach to the Essex off-spinner.
He swept Harmer for 6 and then shortly afterwards, reverse-swept the bowler over the ropes.
Sam Cook flattened middle stump when bowling to Dom Bess with a superb in-swinging delivery to gain a third bowling pint for the visitors as Somerset recoiled to 144-9 but van der Merwe was to find a useful ally in Jack Leach.
The number 11, who produced heroics with the bat for England this year in a tailender’s capacity, got off the mark with successive fours down to third man off Cook and was happy to feed the strike to van der Merwe as the pair added valuable runs.
With Aron Nijjar brought into action to replace Cook, van der Merwe swung the leg-spinner over the ropes to reach 42-ball half-century that also realised the 50 partnership in 10 overs.
And van der Merwe also deposited Harmer over the ropes again before Nijjar ended the Essex frustration when he bowled the cavalier batsman around his legs leaving Leach 11 not out.
Harmer ended with figures of 27-5-105-5 and Cook 19-9-26-4 leaving the Essex openers to see out a potentially testing 40 minutes until tea.
A scrambled single by Browne got the score moving before he then drove splendidly through point to post the first boundary of the reply. Cook meanwhile was content to play a straight bat through to tea when Essex trailed by 178 runs.
As the players left the field, heavy rain started to put a threat to any further play in the day.
Day Two: Lunch Report
Essex captured two wickets in the 15 overs that were possible before lunch whilst Somerset added 51 runs to their overnight score to reach 126-6 at the interval.
Sam Cook and Simon Harmer were the successful bowlers with Cook advancing his figures to 3 for 14 whilst Harmer has now taken 3 for 60 from 18 overs.
Because of heavy early morning rain that left the outfield damp, the start of play was delayed by 90 minutes and seven balls into the session, George Bartlett was caught at leg slip by Ravi Bopara off Harmer for 5.
New batsman Lewis Gregory though took on the Essex prolific off-spinner and got his score going with four boundaries in an over with a mixture of luck and agreeable strokes. His first four was steered past backward square leg, the next was a streaky effort off the inside edge past the wicket-keeper followed by another edge before a fine cover drive took the total to 87-5.
Three balls later, Tom Abell gathered a boundary off Cook but the young paceman removed Gregory in his next over to give the table-toppers their second bowling point.
Gregory came down the pitch to Cook and was struck on the pads by a
straight ball giving umpire Alex Wharf an easy decision to send the batsman on his way for 17 and leave Cook with figures for 3 for 9 at that stage.
Somerset though were sustained by an unbroken partnership between captain Abell and Dom Bess that produced 30 runs in 9 overs with Abell arriving at lunch on 45 and Bess 10 not out.
Day One Match Highlights:
Just 27.5 overs were possible in the County Championship decider at Taunton where Somerset reached 75-4 before persistent rain ended play for the day just before lunch.
Sam Cook took two early wickets for the visitors before the irrepressible Simon Harmer took his tally of victims in the competition to 80 with the dismissals of James Hildreth and Tom Banton.
With his first ball of the match, Cook had Murali Vijay picked up by Adam Wheater for 6 when the wicket-keeper dived to his right to take a one-handed catch as the bowler seamed a delivery away from the one-time Essex opener.
Then with the last ball of his second over, the emerging bowler angled a ball into Steve Davies and struck gold and the pads as his passionate appeal found favour with umpire Alex Wharf.
The highly experienced Hildreth joined captain Tom Abell and with the total on 27, they found themselves facing Harmer whose introduction coincided with the floodlights turned on.
Hildreth swept Harmer for a couple of fours although their stand of 47 was punctuated by a series of leg before shouts that failed to find favour with the officials until Harmer found the key to unlock the door.
The off-spinner was in his seventh over when Hildreth, deep in the crease, was trapped lbw for 32. That gave Essex their first bowling point and two balls later, Banton was beaten by turn to leave Somerset 61-4.
The heavy clouds were already gathering and it came as little surprise when rain forced the players off the field and curtailed action for the day with proceedings formally called off at 4:50 pm.
Abell will resume on 24 and George Bartlett on 5 with Cook and Harmer seeking to add to their figures of 2 for 5 and 2 for 24 respectively.
Essex went into the match with just two front-line pace bowlers having opted to include Aron Nijjar on a pitch already taking spin at this early stage of the game.
The left-arm orthodox spinner, who celebrates his 25th birthday tomorrow last played a Championship match for the county at the end of the 2015 season.
Day One: Tea Report
Persistent rain ensured that there would be no play in the afternoon in the County Championship decider at Taunton where Somerset had reached 75-4 in the 27.5 overs that were possible before lunch.
The Cidermen began the match 12 points adrift of the table-toppers but were destined to fall a further point adrift as an outcome of the truncated play that did take place.
James Hildreth top-scored with 32 but two wickets apiece for Sam Cook and Simon Harmer ensured a satisfactory start to the match for the visitors on a pitch already offering marked turn.
Cook struck twice in 12 deliveries, the first with his initial delivery of the match and currently enjoys figures of 8.5-5-5-2 whilst Harmer has figures of 10-3-24-2.
The off-spinner was introduced into the attack for the ninth over of the game and was destined to claim two wickets in three deliveries courtesy of leg before decisions, one of which accounted for Hildreth.
Following their Vitality Blast success on Saturday, Essex are looking to add the County Championship title to complete a memorable year and their most successful since 1984 in terms of trophies when they won both the Championship and John Player League.
Day One: Lunch Report
Sam Cook and Simon Harmer shared the wickets as Essex reduced Somerset to 75-4 before rain brought an early lunch on the opening day of the County Championship clash at Taunton.
When the rain arrived thirteen minutes before the scheduled break, Essex had extended their 12-points lead by another point. Tom Abell was unbeaten on 24 and George Bartlett 7 not out.
Cook gave the table-toppers a wonderful start with two wickets in his first twelve deliveries to reduce the home aside, who elected to bat after winning the toss, to 14-2. Although the visitors were then held-up by a 47 runs partnership between James Hildreth and Tom Abell, Harmer struck twice in three balls to reclaim the initiative.
After Jamie Porter had conceded 7 runs from the first over of the game, Cook raced in to strike with his first ball of the morning when he seamed a ball away from Murali Vijay and Adam Wheater flung himself to his right to complete a wonderful one-handed catch.
Then with the final ball of his second over, Cook, who has been in such excellent form with the ball took his tally to 30 wickets for the seasons, and 19 in four games, when opener Steve Davies was struck on the pads by a ball angled into him. Umpire Alex Wharf deliberated for some time before raising the finger of fate to send the batsman on his way.
Cook was rested with figures of 6-4-2-2 as Harmer joined the action at the end of the eighth over with the scoreboard showing 27-2 and the floodlights turned on.
Hildreth decided to make the sweep shot an important addition in his attempt to negate the effect of the South African spinner and collected a couple of boundaries in one particular over.
However, Harmer was to eventually have the measure of the Somerset batsman who had scored 32 out of 61 when he was trapped deep in the crease and was sent on his way by umpire Rob Bailey.
Two deliveries later, Tom Banton also took the walk of doom when he failed to negotiate Harmer’s turn and was lbw without score. That gave Harmer his 80th Championship wicket of the season and the bowler figures of 7-2-14-2 at that stage.
Essex went into the match with just two front-line pace bowlers having opted to include Aron Nijjar. The left-arm orthodox spinner, who celebrates his 25th birthday tomorrow last played a Championship match for the county at the end of the 2015 season.
But with the Taunton pitch expected to take prolific turn, and following a couple of memorable performances in the Vitality Blast Finals Day two days ago, Nijjar was given the nod to add support to the prolific Harmer.
