Rain continued to blight the Bob Willis Trophy final but, on the second day, Somerset took charge, posting 301 in their first innings, with Eddie Byrom scoring a terrific century.
Were it not for five wickets for 35 runs late in the innings – the new ball did the trick, then Simon Harmer cleaned up the tail – Somerset’s position would have been even more commanding.
Then, having been bowled out in the gloaming, their potent seam attack were denied an opportunity to get stuck into Essex’s top order – not least Alastair Cook. The players took the field, and Somerset were desperate to bowl, but the light was too poor.
Still, given Somerset were 94 for four on Wednesday, to reach 301 was a fine achievement. Not least because first innings runs are so important in this game; if the match is drawn after five days (and both first innings are completed), the team with a first innings lead will take the Trophy. Both teams seemed to agree at the end of the first day that 250 would have been a decent score, more because of the overhead conditions than the pitch, which seems slow.
So Somerset have done well and they largely have Byrom to thank for that. This was his first century for Somerset against another county, and his previous highest score this season was 30. It was some time to hit such a new high.
The hallmarks of the compact left-hander’s innings were his patience and his on-driving; on Wednesday, he passed fifty with the stroke and on Thursday, in the first over of a delayed afternoon session, he brought up his hundred with it too. It was his 185th ball and 15th four.
Having lost Steven Davies early on, caught behind off Sam Cook, Byrom found a doughty ally in Craig Overton at No7. He got himself going with some outside edges, but was soon flicking nicely through midwicket on his way to a fine fifty.
Their stand of 127 straddled two rain delays and came to an end when Essex took the new ball. By this point, Essex were desperate for wickets and the game and occasion were falling rather flat.
Jamie Porter and Sam Cook, by such a long way Essex’s best bowlers, did the business. Porter pinned Overton in front with the brand new ball, only available after 90 overs, then Cook dismissed Byrom and Lewis Gregory, both also lbw. Essex had lost three for 13, and Somerset were back in the game. Cook finished with five for 76, which was no less than he deserved.
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Harmer had struggled throughout the first innings, but returned to dismiss Jacks Leach and Brooks in successive balls. Somerset had collapsed – but not quickly enough to have a bowl in juicy conditions.
