This post looks at developments on day three of the county championship. I missed the evening session as there was a bowling session at Strikes which served both as the West Norfolk Autism Group’s third birthday event and as our official World Autism Week event. The birthday cake was spectacular – the pictures will be in tomorrow’s post.
A COUNTY RECORD SCORE
Tom Banton of Somerset had already beaten the individual record for Somerset (342 by Justin Langer) by the close of play yesterday, and today he went on to a final score of 371, the third highest at Taunton (behind Archie MacLaren’s 424 in 1895 and Graeme Hick’s 405 not out in 1988. Other than these two only Brian Lara’s all time FC record 501 not out for Warwickshire v Durham and Sam Northeast’s 410 for Glamorgan against Lancashire are ahead of him in English FC cricket. Somerset declared when he was dismissed, their score being 670-7, a first innings lead of 516 over Worcestershire (nowhere near the record – Victoria led NSW by 886 on first innings in 1926 – 1,107 plays 221, and Railways led Dera Ismail Khan by 878 in 1964 – 910-6 declared plays 878). Worcestershire have batted better second time round, but at 280-5 they are still 236 short of avoiding the innings defeat.
TWO RESULTS
Although today is only day three of four two matches are already done – Kent beat Northamptonshire by 145 run early this morning, and Hampshire completed a five-wicket win over Hampshire this evening.
ESSEX v SURREY
Some brilliant bowling by Essex, especially Simon Harmer, had Surrey in deep trouble at 180-6, 402 in arrears. However a lower order fightback led by Ben Foakes (92), with significant contributions from Jordan Clark, Matthew Fisher and James Taylor got Surrey to 365, still 217 short of Essex’s score. Essex enforced the follow-on, as they pretty much had to, but Burns and Sibley survived the six overs that remained in the day unscathed. Surrey will resume tomorrow on 9-0 in their second innings, 208 adrift. Simon Harmer, on a surface that was offering little to any bowler toiled away to record first innings figures of 47-12-83-4, outstanding in the circumstances. Essex’s three top class seamers Porter, Cook and Snater all had respectable figures as well. Sam Cook should be an England bowler before the season is out, while Snater has played many matches for the Netherlands. Porter is unlikely to get the call up this late in his career, and the reason he has missed out for all his effectiveness over many years is that he lacks pace (even Sam Cook, probably the quickest od the trio, is not by any means an express bowler).
PHOTOGRAPHS
Today is apparently Dandelion Day, which is why i chose the feature image I did. There is more about these plants here. Now for the gallery…
aspiblog 