Somerset Leads as 22 Wickets Fall Against Durham

Day One of the Rothesay County Championship Division One Match

On the first day of the Rothesay County Championship Division One match between Durham and Somerset at the Cooper Associates County Ground in Taunton, a dramatic turn of events unfolded as the visiting team struggled to make an impact on a green pitch. The day saw 22 wickets fall, with Somerset emerging as the dominant force.

Durham, invited to bat first, managed only 145 all out, with Craig Overton from Somerset playing a pivotal role. Overton was instrumental in taking two wickets that could have been a hat-trick, showcasing his skill and control over the innings. Ben Raine was the top scorer for Durham with 42 runs before being dismissed.

In response, Somerset posted a strong total of 250 all out. Tom Lammonby was the standout performer, scoring 89 off 109 balls, which included eight boundaries. George Drissell also made a significant contribution by taking career-best figures of 5-59. His performance was crucial in keeping the momentum with the ball.

Despite their efforts, Durham ended the day at 5-2, trailing Somerset by 100 runs with eight wickets remaining. The day started with a partnership of 26 between Alex Lees and Emilio Gay, but their progress was halted when Gay was caught at second slip by Overton. The next ball saw Colin Ackerman taken at first slip by Tom Kohler-Cadmore, leaving the visitors at 33-3.

Overton continued his dominance, taking three more wickets in quick succession. The rain that arrived at 12:10 pm forced an early lunch, but the resumption saw Overton strike again, claiming two more wickets without scoring. Lees, who had scored five fours, was dismissed after miscuing a shot, giving Overton a steepling catch.

Drissell took the final wicket of the innings, and Durham's innings came to an end after just 30.1 overs. The day was marked by several key moments, including Neil Wagner's four fours and Matthew Potts' boundary off Leach.

Somerset's openers, Josh Davey and Kohler-Cadmore, quickly set the tone with aggressive batting. Davey struck three consecutive fours off Potts, while Kohler-Cadmore hit two sixes. However, the experienced South African took revenge by dismissing Kohler-Cadmore with a skied return catch.

Tea was taken with Davey unbeaten on 22, but the session saw several dismissals, including Rew and Abell falling to catches. Tom Banton scored only 10 before being caught by Drissell, and Lammonby and Archie Vaughan steadied the innings. Lammonby reached a half-century with a reverse sweep for four off Drissell.

The day concluded with a remarkable performance from Drissell, who took five wickets in an over. After a six from Ball, Drissell completed a maiden five-for, marking a significant achievement in his career.

As the day came to an end, the hosts gave the new ball to off-spinner Vaughan, who immediately took a wicket. Leach then pinned Parkinson lbw, capping an extraordinary day for Somerset. The match set the stage for an exciting contest in the days to come.