September 28, 2024

Abbott and Dawson Shine as Leach Responds Strongly for Somerset

Tom Kohler-Cadmore was the standout performer for Somerset, scoring 63 runs. Still, his team was bowled out for 136 on the opening day of their final Division One match against Hampshire in the Vitality County Championship. Somerset’s bowlers, Kyle Abbott and Liam Dawson, put on an impressive display, with Abbott taking 4 wickets for 37 runs and Dawson claiming 4 for 28. Despite Kohler-Cadmore’s efforts, the hosts struggled after winning the toss and batting first on a dry pitch expected to favor spin.

As Hampshire began their reply, they faced immediate challenges, quickly finding themselves at 62 for 5. Toby Albert was the lone bright spot for Hampshire, remaining unbeaten on 38 runs. Meanwhile, Somerset’s Jack Leach was a formidable opponent with the ball, securing 3 wickets for just 9 runs.

With this challenging position, Hampshire’s chances of claiming batting points diminished. Somerset now finds itself in a must-win situation if it wants to overtake Hampshire and secure the runners-up spot, finishing behind champions Surrey. The rain interruptions added further complexity to the day, leaving both teams with a tense battle ahead.

Somerset’s Batting Woes Continue as Key Players Fall Early

Somerset’s batting struggles began right from the start of their innings, as Tom Lammonby, who had moved up from No. 3 to open alongside Archie Vaughan, was dismissed lbw by Kyle Abbott on just the fourth ball of the second over without scoring. The situation quickly worsened, with the team at 4 for 2 when Andy Umeed was caught by wicketkeeper Ben Brown off Abbott for a duck on his second ball.

Tom Abell survived an initial appeal for a catch behind Mohammad Abbas. Still, he was bowled for 10 runs, leaving Somerset at 29 runs. In response, Tom Kohler-Cadmore began his innings aggressively, hitting four boundaries in just five balls. At this point, Vaughan had settled in, remaining unbeaten on 19 when rain interrupted the play with Somerset at 52 for 3 after 14 overs. The players took an early lunch at 12:15 PM, and play resumed shortly after 1:20 PM, with ten overs lost due to the weather.

Upon resuming, Hampshire introduced Liam Dawson to the bowling attack, and he made an immediate impact by bowling Vaughan’s leg before wicket for 29 with his sixth delivery, bringing the score to 63 for 4. Somerset added only one more run before James Rew edged a delivery from Abbas to second slip, where Toby Albert made a low catch. Kasey Aldridge faced 22 balls without scoring before attempting to sweep Dawson’s deliveries, ultimately getting out lbw on the second attempt.

Kohler-Cadmore Shines Despite Somerset’s Collapse

Lewis Gregory supported Tom Kohler-Cadmore well as they added 27 runs for the seventh wicket. However, Gregory’s innings ended when he was struck on the back pad by a delivery from Liam Dawson, leading to his dismissal lbw for 16 runs. At that point, Somerset was in trouble at 98 for 7.

Kohler-Cadmore, determined to stabilize the innings, achieved his first Championship half-century of the season, interrupted by his participation in the IPL. He faced 85 balls, hitting five fours and a six over midwicket off James Fuller. Just as Kohler-Cadmore seemed to gain momentum, Jack Leach was dismissed for 9 runs, caught at slip while attempting a big hit off Dawson. When tea was taken at 3:30 PM, Somerset scored 128 for 8.

In the final session, Kohler-Cadmore focused on maintaining his wicket. Still, the scoreboard only advanced to 136 before he was caught behind while driving at a delivery from Abbott. The last batsman, Shoaib Bashir, survived being bowled on his first ball due to a distraction from Abbott’s towel falling as the bowler delivered. However, he quickly became the fifth lbw victim in a disappointing batting performance that lasted 53.5 overs.

Somerset’s Bowlers Make an Impact in Hampshire’s Reply

Alfie Ogborne showed determination, facing 24 balls to score just 1 not out. Still, his efforts boosted Somerset’s morale when he had Fletcha Middleton caught at second slip on the eighth ball of Hampshire’s innings. The situation could have been worse for Hampshire, as Somerset’s Kasey Aldridge dropped a simple catch off Toby Albert’s bat in the third over.

At 13 runs, Nick Gubbins edged a delivery from Gregory to first slip, where Tom Abell made a good catch low to his right. Somerset gained momentum when James Vince, who had previously hit a six off Vaughan, aimed for another big shot against Leach but skied a catch to Abell at backward point instead. Leach continued to shine, striking again when Tom Prest drove a catch to extra cover and bowled Dawson between bat and pad. This marked the first time in a Championship match that Somerset fielded both Leach and Shoaib Bashir, utilizing the two England spinners together as they sought to build on their success towards the end of the day.

Josh Hull Withdrawn from Pakistan Test Tour Due to Quad Injury

Leicestershire left-arm seamer Josh Hull has been ruled out of England’s men’s Test tour of Pakistan due to a quad injury. The 20-year-old sustained the injury during his debut in the final Test of the summer against Sri Lanka at the Kia Oval. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) initially believed he would have enough time to recover, leading to his withdrawal from the limited-overs series against Australia.

However, as Hull’s injury persisted, the ECB decided on Thursday to officially exclude him from the upcoming three-Test series. England has opted not to bring in a replacement player, meaning they will travel to Pakistan with a 16-man squad on October 1. The first Test is set to begin in Multan on October 7.

Josh Hull’s Injury Derails Fast-Track Development for England’s Attack

Josh Hull was initially selected for the tour of Pakistan to accelerate his development as a unique addition to England’s bowling attack. Standing 6 feet 7 inches tall, his left-arm angle and ability to swing the ball into right-handers gave the selectors a fresh option as they looked ahead to the Ashes next winter.

After impressing with five wickets in a tour match against Sri Lanka, Hull was called up to the squad following Mark Wood’s injury during the first Test at Emirates Old Trafford. His strong performance in training caught the attention of head coach Brendon McCullum and bowling consultant James Anderson, leading to a surprising debut at The Oval. Hull showcased his potential in that match by taking 3 wickets for 53 runs in the first innings. However, he failed to take any wickets in the second innings as Sri Lanka successfully chased 219 runs, handing England their only Test defeat of the summer. This match marked Hull’s 11th first-class appearance, coming in a season where he had only taken two wickets in three Division Two matches for Leicestershire, with a disappointing average of 182.50.

It remains to be seen whether Hull would have played in Pakistan or if he will be included in the upcoming tour to New Zealand. The ECB is responsible for overseeing his recovery process.