Craig Overton dropped to the ground after an epic bowling performance ended in defeat for Somerset. Overton, who thundered to six for 30, taking a career best 13 for 87 in the match, almost conjured an impossible victory as Essex stumbled from boulder to boulder, chasing 84 to win. After 11 balls of the morning Essex were four for four, Cooks Sam and Alastair gone, followed by Dan Lawrence to an astounding swallow by Overton at third slip.
A mini-recovery followed until Overton dismissed Matthew Critchley and Tom Westley in the same over. Then came a game of cat and mouse while Overton took a rest after eight overs at full pelt.
He struck immediately on his return from the River End and, when Peter Siddle removed Simon Harmer for a duck, 24 were still needed with only two Essex wickets left. But Adam Rossington kept his nerve and, after the ninth wicket fell with the scores level, a scrambled leg bye brought victory. The nerve-jangler on a frisky pitch brought record viewing figures to the Somerset live stream. “It was an epic morning,” said Jason Kerr, Somerset’s head coach. “I’m still struggling to catch my breath.”
At Bristol James Bracey made his third hundred in three first-class matches, pushing the stuffing back into Gloucestershire as they attempted to avoid defeat by Yorkshire. Bracey punched the air as he reached three figures, a neat innings stretched over five hours. Haris Rauf thumped him on the helmet and, after running repairs and concussion checks, bounced him next ball, bowling rapidly and with fire. At the Ashley Down Road End Dom Bess wheeled through 20 overs and had Bracey dropped on 101. Yorkshire kept at it on the field, and it will come as a relief that Ottis Gibson, their new coach, mentioned in dispatches as a possible contender for the England coaching job, has privately indicated that he has no interest in the role.
Hampshire completed a shambolic three days at the office by losing to Surrey by an innings and 17 runs. Jamie Overton walked away with match figures of eight for 107, finishing off Hampshire’s first innings with three wickets in four balls, before tucking in to their second. Only Joe Weatherley and James Vince put up any real resistance.
Another beautiful century from the young Sussex captain, Tom Haines, caused Derbyshire a day of grinding frustration. Following on, Sussex finished on 272 for two, with Haines sleeping on a career-best 164, Cheteshwar Pujara on 57, in an unbroken third-wicket stand of 133 to leave Sussex trailing by only 53.
Matthew Potts rattled through Leicestershire on a tired pitch, taking a career best six for 58 in a superb display of old ball bowling. Durham then built a commanding lead, thanks to a maiden first-class hundred from Michael Jones.
Ben Compton was the spark in the murky darkness of Kent’s batting, as they tumbled towards an innings defeat by Lancashire. He carried his bat for 104 in the first innings, marooned on 99 for over half an hour, before finishing the day unbeaten on 20 in the second, while all around him chaos reigned. He has been on the pitch for every moment of all three days.
Things bubbled nicely for Glamorgan against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge, where Timm van der Gugten fizzed with bat and ball. Last man out for 62, he grabbed four wickets after tea including Ben Duckett, out just short of his second century of the match.
Updated
On the train home, another intriguing day in the county championship. A thriller at Taunton thanks to heroic bowling from Craig Overton, eight wickets for brother Jamie as Surrey thrashed Hampshire, classy centuries from James Bracey and Tom Haines and a maiden first-class hundred for Michael Jones. Wickets galore for Matthew Potts, and more stoical runs from Ben Compton, the man who never rests. That’s it from me for this round, Jim Wallace will be alongside the Easter bunny to bring you news from the final day’s play. Thanks for playing along, till Thursday, good night!
