Abell’s Gritty Century Puts Somerset in Command Against Relegation-Threatened Yorkshire
Tom Abell's resilient century put Somerset in a dominant position on day two of their County Championship Division One clash with Yorkshire at the Cooper Associates County Ground, as the home side posted a commanding 391 for 6 before bad light curtailed play early.
After a rain-affected opening day, Somerset made the most of improved conditions to pile pressure on relegation-threatened Yorkshire. Abell, the 31-year-old former captain, was the anchor, compiling a measured 130 from 227 balls — his 19th first-class hundred — during a crucial fifth-wicket partnership of 143 with Lewis Goldsworthy, who contributed a battling 65.
Starting the day on 155 for 3, Somerset lost James Rew early — the only casualty of the morning — as he edged Jack White behind for 54 without adding to his overnight score. From there, Abell and Goldsworthy ground their way through a testing morning, adding only 25 runs in the first 15 overs as Yorkshire’s seamers kept things tight with disciplined lines.
Yorkshire captain Jonny Bairstow turned to spin to break the deadlock, bringing on Dan Moriarty, who immediately found some assistance from a dry surface. But Abell, looking assured against both pace and spin, began to push the scoring along, hitting back-to-back boundaries off the left-armer.
Goldsworthy, too, began to open up, pulling Matthew Revis to the square-leg boundary to bring up Somerset’s 200. By lunch, Somerset had reached 235 for 4, with Abell poised on 47 and Goldsworthy solid on 34. The pair continued to frustrate Yorkshire into the afternoon, with Abell reaching his half-century soon after the break, off 118 balls.
Goldsworthy survived a scare, top-edging a sweep over Bairstow’s head, but soon brought up his own fifty — a hard-earned milestone from 146 deliveries. The pair’s century partnership came off 246 balls, laying a solid foundation for Somerset’s imposing total.
Rain briefly interrupted proceedings at 2.06pm, forcing an early tea. When play resumed at 3.20pm under floodlights, the game began to move. Moriarty finally found reward for his persistence, trapping Goldsworthy lbw for 65 as he attempted a sweep.
Abell, however, pushed on. A reverse sweep for four off Dom Bess took him to three figures, his 11th boundary in a patient 202-ball innings. He repeated the shot shortly after to bring up Somerset’s third batting point, with the team surpassing 350.
Kasey Aldridge supported with a useful knock, helping raise another fifty partnership before Abell eventually fell to Bess, attempting a lofted shot to deep mid-wicket late in the day. His dismissal, shortly before bad light ended play 13.3 overs early, capped a fine day for Somerset, who will be eyeing maximum batting points if weather permits.
With the pitch beginning to take spin and further showers forecast over the next two days, a draw remains the likeliest outcome. But Somerset’s first-innings total already looms large for a Yorkshire side in desperate need of points to avoid the drop.
Match Summary
Somerset: 391/6 in 110.3 overs
Top scorers: Tom Abell 130, Lewis Goldsworthy 65, Tom Kohler-Cadmore 76
Yorkshire bowling: Jack White 2-66, Dan Moriarty 1-89, Dom Bess 1-60
Venue: Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton
Competition: Rothesay County Championship Division One
Result: Match in progress; bad light stopped play early on Day 2