Recent Match Report – Somerset vs Essex South Group 2023
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Somerset 150 (Dickson 42, Sams 4-20) beat Essex 138 (Pepper 63, Henry 3-17, Green 3-24) by 12 runs
There was an apple rolling contest at Taunton during the interval but it might well be fermented apples that are more to the taste of Somerset supporters after they emerged triumphant from a taut Blast contest to extend their winning start to the season to six matches.
Somerset’s winning streak is unsurpassed in their T20 history as they threaten to run away with South Group. Their brand of exciting batting has long been recognised, but this was another victory in a tight game, much in keeping with their toppling of Kent five days earlier – except accompanied by sun rather than rain – and such wins are often more valuable in ingraining a winning mentality.
“I’m bowling a few lob-ups and they keep getting hit to the fielders,” Green offered by way of explanation.
For Somerset to pull the game round was particularly impressive considering that Craig Overton, so often their inspiration, leaked 38 from three overs with Pepper to the fore. But Matt Critchley’s mis-pull to long leg was well snaffled by van der Merwe and Somerset could also afford to drop Pepper on 28 – a difficult diving catch to Henry at fly slip.
He should be feeling refreshed, having not taken the field in this season’s IPL, and with an English summer ahead, he is looking to repeat last season’s success when he helped Essex to the Blast quarter-finals and was a member of the Trent Rockets side that won the Hundred.
Essex were late starters in this season’s competition, but Sams’ left-arm seam is already looking in good order. He took the last three wickets to enhance his figures, but his first spell made a decisive breakthrough with the important wicket of Lammonby.
Lammonby was shunted back to opener in the absence of Banton and he monopolised the early strike to make 34 from 23, regularly stepping to leg to free his arms. When Sams followed him, he plopped him over the pavilion and just short of the River Tone. The next ball was full and slower and Lammonby was bowled as he played across it.
Of his three wickets at the tail-end of the innings, the most impressive was that of van der Merwe. Sams flung the ball wide of off stump, van der Merwe, on the stretch, contrived to chip it over his head and Sams, thick-set but still mobile, made excellent ground to claim the catch.
With Will Smeed holing out at deep square for a single (Somerset’s white-ball freelance now has 70 runs in six knocks); Kohler-Cadmore’s obvious threat silenced by Harmer’s juggling return catch, diving low to his left; and Tom Abell sweeping Critchley’s second ball, flat and short, to deep square, Somerset were 71 for 4 with the innings into the 10th over.
When he was seventh out, failing to hit Harmer over long-on, Somerset were 125 for 7 and with 19 balls left would have still had ambitions of sneaking to 155-160, only for the excellence of Sams to restrict them.
David Hopps writes on county cricket for ESPNcricinfo @davidkhopps
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