11-07-2022, 21:20
Actually been today, first time this season, nightmare journey, road works and closures, get to the ground, queue miles long, man says tickets down this way, excellent membership card at the ready, get the card scanned, where's yiour ticket, so it's back to the original queue which is even longer than when I first joined it. They used a bit of common sense by going down the queue to issue printed tckets to memebers. Sorted, then you have the bag search. Any bottles or cans, Nope, I've got an AK47, Machete and some grenades, no problems sir, in you go. So get home to sort ticket out for tomorrow and the thing is sold out. And the ever so helpful club websire didn't mention it, Rhyme's with Clucking Bell
The first day’s play at Southport for four years proved to be a tough one for Lancashire’s bowlers after Somerset produced a resilient batting display to reach 297-5 by the close of the opening day in this LV= County Championship match.
Two early wickets boosted Red Rose hopes after the visitors opted to bat after winning the toss but a century partnership between Lewis Goldsworthy – who made a career-best unbeaten 103 - and James Rew across the final two sessions swung the day Somerset’s way.
Tom Bailey had produced a typically challenging opening burst from the Grosvenor Road End at the start of proceedings, probing the batsmen’s defence around off stump, and he was rewarded with two near-identical dismissals to catches by Rob Jones at second slip; Steve Davis for 1 from a good, tumbling grab and overseas opener Matt Renshaw for 13 by an even better effort low down to Jones’ left.
That had the visitors, without top order regulars Tom Abell and Tom Banton away on England Lions duty, in early strife on 16-2 but Tom Lammonby and James Bartlett rallied with a steady 61-run alliance on a hot and sunny morning at Trafalgar Road.
Their progress was halted just before lunch when Bartlett more or less yorked himself by playing over the top of left-arm spinner Jack Morley’s second ball to be bowled for 27, with Somerset 77-3 and adding twelve to that total by lunch.
And the Red Rose attack built on that success early in the afternoon when Will Williams, on his home debut, trapped Lammonby lbw for 42.
But 21 year-old Goldsworthy and 18 year-old Rew, making his Championship debut, put up some strong resistance during a hot, humid afternoon, posting a Somerset fifth wicket record partnership against Lancashire of 145, although Rew had an early escape on 18 when his sharp edge off Morley just evaded a diving Luke Wells at slip.
But the pair’s steady progress to build a big score was exemplified by Goldsworthy’s determined two and a quarter hours fifty off 116 balls as tea was reached with Somerset on 191-4.
And he found excellent support from Rew who batted with great maturity in just his second first-class game reaching his fifty off 84 balls and posting the century partnership at the same time from 27.3 overs.
Dane Vilas steadily rotated his bowlers, giving them short, sharp spells in the hot conditions, but it took the arrival of the new ball before Lancashire could celebrate a further success when Rew clipped Williams to Bailey at square leg having made a fine 70.
Goldsworthy went to his maiden century in style driving George Balderson through covers for his fifteenth four with his hundred coming from 207 balls just before the close with Somerset well positioned on 297-5.
“We thought we did pretty well in that first session,” said Will Williams, “and for most of the second one as well. It was a really disciplined effort.
“The pitch had a little bit in it early and then flattened out after that. I think it will be a good batting day tomorrow and then it might spin a bit more after that.”
“At the back end of that second session they got a couple of boundaries away and got around 20 to 30 more runs than we would have liked.”
And Williams believes that Somerset are some way off being beyond Lancashire despite having the better of the day.
“We worked hard in that last session and I feel the first session tomorrow morning will be key in terms of going forward in the game.
“They did get away a little bit, but we’ll be coming out hot tomorrow morning and if we can get a couple of poles in the morning it will put us in the box seat.”
The first day’s play at Southport for four years proved to be a tough one for Lancashire’s bowlers after Somerset produced a resilient batting display to reach 297-5 by the close of the opening day in this LV= County Championship match.
Two early wickets boosted Red Rose hopes after the visitors opted to bat after winning the toss but a century partnership between Lewis Goldsworthy – who made a career-best unbeaten 103 - and James Rew across the final two sessions swung the day Somerset’s way.
Tom Bailey had produced a typically challenging opening burst from the Grosvenor Road End at the start of proceedings, probing the batsmen’s defence around off stump, and he was rewarded with two near-identical dismissals to catches by Rob Jones at second slip; Steve Davis for 1 from a good, tumbling grab and overseas opener Matt Renshaw for 13 by an even better effort low down to Jones’ left.
That had the visitors, without top order regulars Tom Abell and Tom Banton away on England Lions duty, in early strife on 16-2 but Tom Lammonby and James Bartlett rallied with a steady 61-run alliance on a hot and sunny morning at Trafalgar Road.
Their progress was halted just before lunch when Bartlett more or less yorked himself by playing over the top of left-arm spinner Jack Morley’s second ball to be bowled for 27, with Somerset 77-3 and adding twelve to that total by lunch.
And the Red Rose attack built on that success early in the afternoon when Will Williams, on his home debut, trapped Lammonby lbw for 42.
But 21 year-old Goldsworthy and 18 year-old Rew, making his Championship debut, put up some strong resistance during a hot, humid afternoon, posting a Somerset fifth wicket record partnership against Lancashire of 145, although Rew had an early escape on 18 when his sharp edge off Morley just evaded a diving Luke Wells at slip.
But the pair’s steady progress to build a big score was exemplified by Goldsworthy’s determined two and a quarter hours fifty off 116 balls as tea was reached with Somerset on 191-4.
And he found excellent support from Rew who batted with great maturity in just his second first-class game reaching his fifty off 84 balls and posting the century partnership at the same time from 27.3 overs.
Dane Vilas steadily rotated his bowlers, giving them short, sharp spells in the hot conditions, but it took the arrival of the new ball before Lancashire could celebrate a further success when Rew clipped Williams to Bailey at square leg having made a fine 70.
Goldsworthy went to his maiden century in style driving George Balderson through covers for his fifteenth four with his hundred coming from 207 balls just before the close with Somerset well positioned on 297-5.
“We thought we did pretty well in that first session,” said Will Williams, “and for most of the second one as well. It was a really disciplined effort.
“The pitch had a little bit in it early and then flattened out after that. I think it will be a good batting day tomorrow and then it might spin a bit more after that.”
“At the back end of that second session they got a couple of boundaries away and got around 20 to 30 more runs than we would have liked.”
And Williams believes that Somerset are some way off being beyond Lancashire despite having the better of the day.
“We worked hard in that last session and I feel the first session tomorrow morning will be key in terms of going forward in the game.
“They did get away a little bit, but we’ll be coming out hot tomorrow morning and if we can get a couple of poles in the morning it will put us in the box seat.”
Have you heard about the news on Mizar 5
People got to shout to stay alive
People got to shout to stay alive