TAUNTON — The opening day of Somerset’s LV= Insurance County Championship clash with Yorkshire was heavily truncated by persistent rain at the Cooper Associates County Ground, with only 42 overs of play possible before the elements had the final say. The home side, having won the toss and elected to bat, reached a promising 155 for the loss of three wickets, leaving the contest intriguingly poised for the days ahead.
The start of play was delayed by 90 minutes, a frustrating but familiar sight for early-season county cricket aficionados. When the action did get underway under leaden skies, Somerset openers Tom Lammonby and new signing, South African Test star Dean Elgar, walked out to a sparse but hopeful crowd. The early exchanges were typically attritional, with Yorkshire’s new-ball pair of Ben Coad and Matthew Fisher finding a probing line and length.
Early Promise and a Crucial Breakthrough
The left-handed duo looked largely untroubled, negotiating the initial threat with a blend of watchful defence and crisp strokeplay. They brought up the fifty partnership in the 18th over, suggesting a solid platform was being built. However, just as they appeared to be seeing off the danger, Yorkshire struck. Ben Coad, the pick of the Yorkshire attack, found the outside edge of Lammonby’s bat with a delivery that just left him, and wicketkeeper Jonny Tattersall took a straightforward catch to dismiss the opener for 28. The partnership was broken at 61.
This brought the in-form Tom Abell to the crease to join the experienced Elgar. The pair continued to accumulate, with Elgar looking particularly assured on his first Championship outing for his new county. His class was evident, driving with authority through the covers and cutting with precision. Abell, the former Somerset captain, looked equally composed as the pair guided their side to 92-1 at the lunch interval, a position of clear strength.
The Rain Returns and Yorkshire Fight Back
The players took an early lunch with the weather closing in once more, and the inevitable rain arrived during the break, leading to a lengthy delay that consumed the entire afternoon session. Play finally resumed at 4:15 PM, offering a truncated final session of 26 overs. The break, however, seemed to disrupt Somerset's rhythm and offered Yorkshire a renewed opportunity. "It's always frustrating when you lose so much time," Somerset’s Andy Hurry later remarked. "We felt we were building a very strong position."
Yorkshire emerged with greater intensity. Matthew Revis, introduced into the attack, made an almost immediate impact. He produced a fine delivery that squared up the dangerous Tom Abell (21) and found the edge, with Jordan Thompson taking a smart low catch at second slip to reduce Somerset to 108-2. The visitors had their tails up and soon landed another crucial blow. The prize wicket of Dean Elgar fell to the off-spin of Dan Moriarty; Elgar, on 47 and looking set for a half-century, could only inside-edge a turning delivery onto his own stumps.
This left Somerset on 126-3, suddenly three-down and in danger of squandering their strong start. The responsibility fell to the young pairing of Tom Banton and the highly-rated James Rew to navigate the remaining overs. They did so with a mixture of caution and flair, adding an unbroken 29-run partnership to guide their side to stumps without further loss. Banton finished the day unbeaten on 22, while Rew was 13 not out.
Key Takeaways from a Frustrating Day
While a full day’s play was lost, the abbreviated action provided several key narratives for the remainder of the match:
- Dean Elgar’s Debut: Looked every bit the international quality signing, providing Somerset with the solidity they craved at the top of the order. His 47 was a demonstration of Test match temperament.
- Yorkshire’s Persistence: Despite the conditions, their bowling unit stuck to their task admirably, with Coad, Revis, and Moriarty all claiming important wickets.
- The Platform Remains: Somerset’s total of 155-3, while perhaps 30-40 runs short of what they might have hoped for after the first session, still represents a decent foundation. The game is beautifully balanced.
Yorkshire’s bowling coach, Kabir Ali, acknowledged the fightback after the long rain delay: "The lads showed great character to come out after such a long break and take two key wickets. To have them three down puts us in a good position heading into tomorrow. We need to start well and try to bowl them out for under 250."
Looking Ahead to Day Two
The forecast for the second day is significantly improved, offering the prospect of a full 96 overs of cricket. All eyes will be on the Banton-Rew partnership first thing in the morning. Both are explosive players capable of changing the complexion of an innings quickly. If they can see off the new ball and build a substantial partnership, Somerset will be aiming for a total in excess of 300. Conversely, if Yorkshire can make early inroads, they will be looking to dismiss the home side for around 220 and begin their own reply before lunch.
The pitch at Taunton has offered something for everyone thus far – encouraging the seamers with some early movement and showing signs of turn for the spinners. A fascinating battle is in store between Yorkshire’s batters and a Somerset attack featuring the likes of Craig Overton, Migael Pretorius, and the evergreen Jack Leach. While the rain was the undeniable winner on day one, it has merely set the stage for a compelling three days of four-day cricket, with both sides retaining realistic hopes of forcing a victory.