The batsmen have not really been troubled - a few edges but does not appear to have been because of movement off the pitch. I think we needed three down by lunch but lets see what the afternoon session brings - get two or three in quick succession and it's game on!
Somerset need 236 off 45 overs, we need to take a wicket desperately or we could end up losing this one.
Somerset need over 5 an over and seem to be disinterested in going that quickly. Looks like a draw is on the cards unless.............
Somerset, as I type, will be sniffing a win here.
Almost exactly 24 hours ago we had Will Rhodes and Sam Hain scoring 15 runs in 10 overs before Tea so Somerset are racing along in comparison to that!
We ought to be able to stop them from scoring at 5 an over for a prolonged period. For once, they're using the whole ground at Taunton so there isn't a short square boundary. There are no fielding restrictions so we can have long on and long off back, together with a third man and fine leg. There is nothing in the rules to stop us "hiding" the ball outside off stump.
Might be worth letting them think they can do it, though. Draw remains favourite but if we could persuade Abell and Banton to hole out, it would be game on.
We need an early wicket or two after tea to put the brake on. If these two are still in after another ten overs we could be looking down the barrel.
If we lose this, it can all be put down to that bizarre hour or 2 when Hain came in, forcing the rate to a near stop. Then Mousley and Barnard feeling like they needed to force the issue and getting out. Making Hain hit the breaks once more.
If he and Rhodes had batted normally for those 15 overs around tea, got at 3 or 4 an over with little risk, the target would have been 470-480.
Will be as embarrassing as the Essex game if we lose. Questions will need to be asked again of the management and captaincy. No wins yet this season is desperate stuff, even Worcester have won a game!
I see Somerset as very firm favourites. We just seem to be drifting to another defeat without showing much resistance. Why no Rhodes? Why no Mousley, and before anyone says he doesn’t bowl in red ball cricket, the kid takes wickets. Give him a go, use all the clubs you have in your bag if necessary. How Robinson explains this one away, will be really interesting!
BristolBear wrote:
If we lose this, it can all be put down to that bizarre hour or 2 when Hain came in, forcing the rate to a near stop. Then Mousley and Barnard feeling like they needed to force the issue and getting out. Making Hain hit the breaks once more.
If he and Rhodes had batted normally for those 15 overs around tea, got at 3 or 4 an over with little risk, the target would have been 470-480.
Agreed, Rhodes and Hain played like shit yesterday after being given a superb platform by our openers. Totally let Somerset claw their way back into the game.
Right now however, if Woakes can come to the party in any kind of way we can still put the brakes on them.
Why are Woakes & Rhodes bowling striaght at the stumps? There's no pace on the wicket, it's easy for the batsmen just to push singles. Why not try a couple of balls outside off stump, a couple down leg or the odd bouncer? The tactics are awful.
A poor shot from Banton but we'll take that! Hopefully we can take another couple of wickets to really put the brake on.
Poor tactics with bat and ball in this game. Davies is not a red ball captain.
And rapidly losing faith in Robinson.
Even if we win this game (which I don't think we will), I will stand by the above.
Conceding a boundary almost every over.
Mousley bowling his first over of the day at 5.20!!
I appreciate the hardness of the new ball might be problematic when defending but I think you gamble and take it here and hope Woakes and OHD can nip a couple out.
Anything is worth a try because right now getting at least one boundary an over is easy and will win the game for Somerset.
A lot of these runs have been very streaky.
You just know we wouldn't have even gone for these today had the circumstances been reversed.
A great point