Harry Podmore claimed four wickets on his first Specsavers County Championship appearance for Middlesex as Somerset were bowled out for 236 on the opening day of the match at Taunton. Having made a late decision to switch from a dry looking strip to a very green one, the hosts were indebted to Chris Rogers (57), Jim Allenby (44) and Marcus Trescothick (35) for securing a bonus point in testing conditions. Podmore (four for 54), James Harris (three for 67) and James Fuller (three for 72) profited from excellent seam bowling conditions after the visitors had not surprisingly elected to field. By the close of a rain-affected day, Middlesex had replied with 51 for one from 16 overs, losing Sam Robson lbw to the second ball of the innings from Craig Overton. Nick Gubbins was unbeaten on 31. Somerset had put only six runs on the board when Johann Myburgh edged Fuller through to wicketkeeper John Simpson and departed for a duck. But Rogers and Trescothick then produced the most positive strokeplay of the day, punishing anything loose in their second-wicket stand of 71. Trescothick looked at his imperious best as his first eight scoring strokes brought boundaries before he got an inside edge onto his stumps to give Harris his first wicket. The Middlesex bowlers failed to make the most of the conditions in the morning session. James Hildreth hit a six over backward point off Fuller before being adjudged lbw for 19 to a delivery from the same bowler. Rogers moved to an attractive half-century off 68 balls, with 10 fours, and was still there at lunch, with his side 125 for three off 27 overs. Soon after the interval came the first rain break, with 30 minutes lost. When play resumed Middlesex bowled a better line and length, reaping reward with four wickets. Rogers was caught by the diving Simpson leg-glancing a ball from Podmore, who had played in the competition only while on loan to Glamorgan earlier in the season. The 21-year-old local product followed up by having Peter Trego caught behind for four off a full, swinging delivery. And it was 154 for six when Craig Overton fell for a duck, chasing a wide one from Harris and offering Simpson his fourth catch. Alex Barrow contributed ten before being caught at second slip by Ollie Rayner off Harris and when rain forced an early tea Somerset were 184 for seven. The final session saw 27 runs added before Jamie Overton was caught at first slip aiming a full-blooded drive at Podmore. The players followed him off as rain brought a third interruption. All the time Allenby had been compiling a valuable knock, riding his luck at times and surviving a tough one-handed chance to Rayner at slip off Podmore when on 35. He had battled away for 115 balls when finally getting one with his name on it, edging Podmore behind to give Simpson a fifth victim. Rayner then took a fine diving slip catch to dismiss Jack Leach for 12 as Fuller took a deserved third wicket
Chris Rogers hit a 68-ball half-century against his former county as Somerset posted 184 for seven before rain forced an early tea on the opening day of the Specsavers County Championship match with Middlesex at Taunton.
A late switch of pitch from a dry looking strip to a green one nearer the town side of the ground gave Middlesex an easy decision to field first and batting proved tricky in both sessions. Rogers coped better than most, hitting 57 before becoming one of two victims for Harry Podmore on his Middlesex Championship debut. Marcus Trescothick made a brisk 35, sharing the biggest stand of the innings with Rogers, 71 for the second wicket. The Middlesex bowlers improved after lunch to take four wickets for 59 runs. James Harris had figures of three for 56 at tea.
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Chris Rogers hit a 68-ball half-century against his former county as Somerset posted 125 for three from 27 overs on the opening morning of the Specsavers County Championship match with Middlesex at Taunton. A late switch of pitch from a dry looking strip to a green one nearer the town side of the ground gave Middlesex an easy decision to field first. But they failed to cash in after Johann Myburgh fell early to James Fuller for a duck, with Rogers and Marcus Trescothick (35) adding 71 in positive fashion for the second wicket. Trescothick’s first eight scoring shots were boundaries before he played on to James Harris, while Rogers smacked 11 fours on his way being 56 not out at the interval. James Hildreth (19) fell lbw to Fuller, whose figures at lunch were two for 37 from nine overs.
