Bob Willis Trophy: Somerset defeat Northamptonshire inside two days
- Published
Bob Willis Trophy, County Ground (day two): |
Somerset 166 & 222: J Overton 68, C Overton 53; Sanderson 4-61, Berg 4-64 |
Northamptonshire 67 & 154: Vasconcelos 52; J Overton 4-26, Brooks 4-40 |
Somerset (19 pts) beat Northamptonshire (3 pts) by 167 runs |
Jamie Overton starred with bat and then ball on Sunday as Somerset completed a 167-run Bob Willis Trophy win over Northamptonshire inside two action-packed days at Wantage Road.
An eventful match finished in suitable style on the second evening as the home team - skittled for 67 on Saturday - lost their final six wickets for six runs in 24 balls to be dismissed for 154, in pursuit of an unlikely target of 322.
Overton claimed 4-26, having earlier notched the highest score of the match - 68 from 43 balls - as Somerset posted 222 in their second innings, having resumed on 15-1.
After 21 wickets on the first day, Somerset strapped in for the ride on Sunday morning with their 114-run overnight lead and ensured there was no let-up in the entertainment by whacking 160 in 25 overs to lunch.
Ben Sanderson and Gareth Berg took four wickets apiece for Northamptonshire, with Somerset at one stage 53-6 before Jamie Overton, along with brother Craig Overton (53) and Roelof Van der Merwe (30) all swung successfully, the latter pair adding 67 in 51 deliveries.
A 321-run lead was always going to be more than sufficient, but Northamptonshire, to their credit, also decided that positivity was required to have a sniff of the target and they had a better session to tea, reaching 104-3.
Ricardo Vasconcelos struck six fours in 10 balls to reach a half-century, but in the first over of the evening session he poked at a ball from Josh Davey two feet outside off stump and was taken at second slip by Jamie Overton for 52.
Northants reached 148-4 before Rob Keogh tamely lobbed a return catch to Jack Brooks (4-40) trying to work a full outswinger to leg and the final six wickets fell in the blink of eye in a brutal ending for the home team.
Northants head coach David Ripley: "The pitch did a little bit for the seam bowlers over both days and there was some bounce. The fact the game is over in six sessions suggests it was too much in the bowlers' favour.
"We'd like more balance in the wicket but it isn't easy to get it right and the groundstaff work tirelessly.
"Some of our dismissals weren't great and it was disappointing. Batting was tough but we should be doing better."
Somerset skipper Tom Abell: "We couldn't have wished to start any better. It started a few weeks ago against Gloucestershire in pre-season, we were outstanding there and have been brilliant in two proper games now.
"We've done it in different conditions too. Cricket is about adapting to different conditions. Plenty happened over these two days.
"I don't see the bowlers as just that because they have a huge amount of ability with the bat too. But the bowling group with the ball were fantastic."
Match report supplied by PA Media.
- Published8 August 2020