August 31, 2024

Brydon Carse Hits Century on Comeback, but Durham Struggles Late

Somerset tore through Durham’s second innings, leaving the visitors with a daunting task. After being bowled out for 336, Durham is now 15 for 3, needing another 405 runs to win against Somerset, who declared at 263 for 5 in their second innings.

Brydon Carse’s century on his return from suspension was a highlight for Durham. Still, it wasn’t enough to prevent them from sliding towards defeat on the third day of the Vitality County Championship Division One match in Taunton. Durham started the day by adding 64 runs to their overnight score of 272 for 6, with Carse contributing 104 and Ben Raine making 62. Jack Leach’s five-wicket haul for 124 runs off 41.1 overs secured Somerset a first-innings lead of 156. Opting not to enforce the follow-on, Somerset added 263 for 5 in their second innings, with Tom Abell scoring 56. After a delay due to bad light, Somerset declared, setting Durham an imposing target of 420 on a pitch that increasingly favored spinners. By the close of play, Durham struggled at 15 for 3, facing a tough final day.

Durham Struggles in Morning Session as Somerset Tightens Grip

Durham began the morning session needing 71 runs to avoid the follow-on, with Brydon Carse unbeaten on 59 and Ben Raine on 51. Carse continued to fight alongside Raine, playing his first game back after a three-month ban for historic betting rule breaches.

The pair added 15 more runs, bringing their seventh-wicket partnership to 117 before Raine edged a delivery from Jack Leach, caught by Craig Overton, who claimed his fourth slip catch of the innings.

Kasey Aldridge then struck twice, first dismissing George Drissell, who fended a rising ball to short leg, and then removing Daniel Hogg with a catch by diving wicketkeeper James Rew, leaving Durham at 305 for 9.

Carse responded with three sixes, two in succession off Aldridge, to bring up his century, having faced 161 balls with 11 fours and four sixes. His brilliant innings ended when last man Callum Parkinson was caught at a silly point off Leach, closing the innings at 336.

Somerset’s second innings strategy seemed clear: bat aggressively while Lewis Goldsworthy anchored. Andy Umeed made a quick 28 off 31 balls before being caught at long-off by Drissell in the last over before lunch. Somerset stood at 41 for 1 at the interval, with a lead of 197 and ready for an afternoon assault.

Somerset Tightens Grip with Strong Batting and Early Durham Wickets

Tom Lammonby set the tone with a brisk 36 off 34 balls, looking in great form until a perfectly pitched off-break from George Drissell turned sharply to clip his off stump. Tom Abell added 36 runs with the patient Lewis Goldsworthy, whose steady 99-ball innings ended on 38, identical to his first-innings score, as he was caught behind while driving at Callum Parkinson.

Tom Banton provided Somerset’s needed acceleration, smashing two sixes in a Drissell over and two more off Parkinson. He raced to 46 off 28 balls before miscuing a catch to mid-off, giving Brydon Carse a wicket. By then, Somerset had extended their lead to 353 with a score of 197 for four.

Abell remained unbeaten on 45 at tea, with a score of 209 for four. He reached a confident half-century off 69 balls, highlighted by a beautiful extra cover drive for four off Bas de Leede. However, Abell soon edged the same bowler to wicketkeeper Ollie Robinson, departing for 52 and leaving Somerset at 228 for five.

James Rew and Archie Vaughan added 35 more runs to push the lead past 400 before the umpires halted play due to poor light despite the floodlights being on. After an hour’s delay, play resumed at 6:05 pm, with Somerset declaring and Durham facing a challenging 13 overs before the close.

Durham’s innings started disastrously against spin from both ends. Alex Lees called for a risky single in the second over, but Ben McKinney was run out by Abell’s sharp throw to Rew. Craig Overton’s close-catching skills were displayed again as Lees edged a delivery from Jack Leach to leg slip, departing for six. Vaughan then bowled Scott Borthwick with a ball that turned past the outside edge, leaving Durham with two nightwatchmen at the crease and an enormous uphill battle ahead.

Sussex Push for Victory Despite Madsen’s Century

Derbyshire are two wickets down and trailing by 176 runs in their second innings after being forced to follow on against Sussex. After posting 290 in their first innings, with Wayne Madsen scoring 138 and James Coles taking 5 for 90, Derbyshire ended the third day at 141 for 2, still far behind Sussex’s massive 607 for 8 declared.

Sussex remains the clear favorite to secure their sixth win of the season in the Vitality County Championship and extend their lead at the top of Division Two. However, Derbyshire’s batters showed resilience in their second innings, giving them a slim chance of saving the game. After being reduced to 24 for 4 in their first innings, Derbyshire faced a daunting task but managed to stabilize somewhat after being asked to follow on, still trailing by 317 runs.

Openers Harry Came and Luis Reece provided a solid start in the second innings, putting up a 46-run partnership over 23.4 overs. They successfully saw off the new ball threat from Ollie Robinson and Jaydev Unadkat, reaching 29 for 0 after 16 overs. With the light fading, Sussex captain John Simpson turned to his spinners, and James Coles made the breakthrough in the 24th over. Upon attempting a sweep, Reece was caught at deep backward square leg by Fynn Hudson-Prentice after a patient 88-ball 27.

Derbyshire Fight Back After Weather Delay, But Sussex Still in Control

At 47 for 1, just before tea, bad light forced the players off the field for an hour. Tea was taken during the delay, and only four overs were lost. When play resumed, Brooke Guest adopted a more aggressive approach, hitting three fours and sweeping Jack Carson for six before being trapped lbw by the Sussex spinner. Harry Came, first-innings star Wayne Madsen then steadied the innings with an unbroken half-century partnership for the third wicket.

Earlier in the day, Derbyshire was bowled out for 290 after starting the morning session on 178 for 6, still 429 runs behind Sussex. Madsen, who resumed on 79, reached 138, marking his 38th first-class century and his fourth against Sussex. He faced 210 balls, hitting 21 fours and three sixes. Off-spinner Jack Carson, who took nine wickets in the previous match against Yorkshire, claimed 5 for 90, becoming the first Sussex spinner to take a five-for against Derbyshire since Chris Waller in 1985.