WARWICKSHIRE fought back against Somerset at Edgbaston – after going back to basics.
Somerset posted a daunting first innings total of 498 – with Tom Kohler-Cadmore (104) and Tom Lammonby (133) both made centuries.
But the Bears fought back with captain Alex Davies (63 not out) and Tom Latham (65 not out) leading the way after the loss of Rob Yates for 17.
Warwickshire ended the day on 158 for one – and in a position to challenge the visitors.
Yates told Warwickshire’s X account: “It turned out to be a decent day in the end. They batted nicely, but we spoke yesterday morning and said if we do the basics and earn the right to stay in the game, that’s all you can do – and we got our rewards.
“We fought back really well before and after lunch, we contain them well and fought hard.”
But careless batting and missed opportunities in the field cost Somerset a position of dominance as they collapsed to 498 all out.
Davies and Latham added 125 in 43 overs but both rode their luck.Davies, on 36, survived a high chance to Archie Vaughan at point and Latham, on 28 escaped a missed stumping by James Rew off Jack Leach.
After Somerset resumed on the second morning on 327 for three, overnight pair Lammonby (133) and Tom Abell (48) took the total past 400.
The platform was there for a mammoth total for Craig Overton’s side.
But the collapse began when Abell, seeking to accelerate towards another batting point, hit Corey Rocchiccioli for three successive fours, then pulled a short ball to mid-wicket to supply the Australian’s first wicket for Warwickshire.
Lammonby had batted well to turn his ninth first-class century into a career-best, but then chipped Ethan Bamber tamely to mid off.
Warwickshire’s part-time spinners Yates and Jacob Bethell then shared the last five wickets in 15 overs.
Tom Banton skied Bethell to mid off and Vaughan missed a sweep and was lbw to Yates who quickly had Migael Pretorius caught at slip. Leach conjured up another way to get out when he reverse-swept Bethell to slip.
When Matt Henry slogged Yates to long off, Somerset were left with 498 – a tall total but not the intimidating score which would have forced Warwickshire to bat very long even to avoid the follow on.
The moment that Warwickshire avoid the follow on figure – 349 – this match should be doomed to a draw. Yates went in infuriating fashion, caught down the leg side by Rew off Pretorius, but Davies and Latham reined in their attacking instincts to ensure it was an isolated early wicket.
Additional reporting – ECB Reporters’ Network supported by Rothesay.
