County Championship: Joe Clarke and Will Young share record stand for Nottinghamshire against Somerset

Joe ClarkeImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Joe Clarke's double hundred came after centuries in his previous two games in the County Championship

Vitality County Championship Division One, Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton (day three)

Nottinghamshire 193 & 418-2: Clarke 209, Young 156; Overton 1-44

Somerset 454: Overton 95*, Banton 83; Harrison 4-93

Notts (2 pts) lead Somerset (7 pts) by 157 runs

Joe Clarke and Will Young broke a Nottinghamshire record stretching back 121 years with an unbeaten third-wicket stand of 370 to transform the County Championship match against Somerset at Taunton.

The pair batted for all but 10 minutes of the third day, coming together with their side 48-2 in their second innings, trailing by 213, and guiding them to 418-2 at the close, a lead of 157.

Clarke hit an undefeated 209, while Young contributed 156 not out. Their combined efforts bettered those of the uncle and nephew partnership of Billy and John Gunn, who put together a third-wicket stand of 367 against Leicestershire at Trent Bridge back in 1903.

By stumps, the pair had been together for two minutes short of six hours without either giving a chance. It was memorable display of concentration and application, which spelled total frustration for the Somerset bowlers.

Notts had started the day looking to save the game from a seemingly daunting position. Haseeb Hameed was bowled through the gate by Craig Overton for 20.

Clarke walked out to join Young with hundreds against Worcestershire and Essex already to his name this season.

He brought up another ton off 136 deliveries and the partnership was worth 233 by tea.

Young went to his century with a superb square-driven four off Migael Pretorius and the partnership was soon worth 300.

A six by Young off the disappointing Shoaib Bashir piled on the misery for Somerset before Clarke scampered a single off Lewis Goldsworthy to bring up his double hundred off 284 balls, with 25 fours and a six.

The record stand was broken in the final over when Young pulled a two off Pretorius.

With the final day to come on Monday, the mammoth stand has given Notts a chance of pushing for an unlikely victory.

Match report supplied by ECB Reporters' Network.

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