SOMERSET SECONDS WON BY AN INNINGS AND 37 RUNS
After lunch Middlesex got off to a tricky start as Podmore was caught by Leask off the bowling of Green after adding a brilliant 77 off 146 balls. The same bowler then dismissed Kolk with just one run added to the innings, before Godsal hit a useful 26 to keep the scoreboard ticking.
Unfortunately for Middlesex, Somerset's Green looked in fine form as he picked up his fourth and fifth wickets of the day, dismissing both Godsal and Wallalawita in relatively quick succession, with the score on 301-8.
The tail-end of the innings were equally difficult for Middlesex as White and Duke were dismissed in the space of 13 runs off the bowling of Abell and Bess respectively, thus prematurely ending Middlesex's innings on 329 and handing Somerset the victory.
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DAY THREE - LUNCH UPDATE
After making good headway yesterday evening into eroding Somerset's enormous lead, Middlesex Seconds continued this morning where they left off last night, at the crease, looking to not only reduce the deficit facing them, but take time out of the game, in the hope that they could salvage something from a game that they've been on the back foot for large parts of.
George Scott and Harry Podmore continued to build a useful partnership, until Scott became the third Middlesex wicket to go down, falling for 92 to van Meekeren, and Middlesex were 154 for 3.
Tom Lace joined Podmore at the crease and had put on 46 for the fourth wicket before he fell to Bess for 23.
Podmore passed his fifty, and he and Kolk saw it through til lunch with the score 232 for 4, trailing by 134 runs, with Podmore on 69* and Kolk 11*.
More digging in for the afternoon session and Middlesex could well escape with a draw here...
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DAY TWO - CLOSE OF PLAY
After digging deep in the final session of day two, Middlesex fought back, and now trail Somerset by 238 runs after closing day two on 128-2.
George Scott batted superbly, continuing the great form he's shown to date this season, and went in overnight on 77* with Harry Podmore 18*, after Manuwelge (21) and Perera (10) fell earlier in the evening session.
Facing a long day at the crease tomorrow to save the game, Middlesex have it all to do, if they are to erase the deficit and push for a second innings lead.
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DAY TWO - TEA UPDATE
Somerset continued to pile on the runs and moved onto 545 for 8 before declaring their innings with a lead of 366 runs over Middlesex. Podmore, Barber and Walallawita each collected a wicket a piece in the afternoon session.
Podmore finished the innings as the pick of the Middlesex bowlers with 3 for 107, whilst Barber picked up 2 for 99, and Walallawita, Duke and Manuwelge one wicket apiece.
44 overs now remain in the day for the Middlesex batsmen to work on the deficit and dig deep to try and salvage something from the game.
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DAY TWO - LUNCH UPDATE
Taunton Vale saw another session this morning which belonged to the home side, as Somerset Seconds continued to build on their overnight score of 253 for 5.
Things started brightly for Middlesex when Podmore picked up the wicket of Banton, early in the day, with only eighteen runs added to the scoreboard, with Tom Barber taking the catch to see the Somerset keeper off for 29 and the hosts were 271 for 6.
Any hopes of wrapping up the innings quickly were soon put to bed however as Leask and Green put on another 98 for the seventh wicket before Walallawita struck, dismissing Leask for a solid 67.
Podmore was in the wickets again, with his third of the innings, as Jack Leach went for 18, although that was to be Middlesex's final success of the morning session, with Bess joining Green at the crease, with the latter on 45*, to see it through to lunch with the hosts on 408 for 8, leading by 229 runs.
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DAY ONE - CLOSE OF PLAY
A tough day at the office for Middlesex Two's, who finished the day on the back foot against a strong Somerset Second eleven at Taunton Vale.
Middlesex resumed the evening session after tea with ball in hand, in the hunt for quick wickets, having been uncharacteristically bowled out cheaply for just 179.
The Somerset batsmen had other ideas however, as having recovered from an early scare at 18 for 2, Rouse and Byrom took the score to 200, in an 182 run third wicket partnership, before the latter was dismissed by Duke, caught by Godsal, just four runs short of his century.
Rouse fell soon after, trapped in front by Manuwelge for 81, although with 222 runs on the board the Somerset lead had already grown to 43.
Barber picked up the wicket of Smeed for 16, which saw the hosts finish day one in the ascendancy, on 253 for 5, leading by 74 runs, with five wickets still standing.
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DAY ONE - TEA UPDATE
After the interval Manuwelge was dismissed for 11, with Middlesex on 125-6 after being caught by Banton off the bowling of van Meekeren.
Godsal joined Podmore at the crease and the pair put on 24 before Godsal fell, caught by Byron off the bowling of van Meekeren.
Towards the tail-end of the innings Walallawita hit a very useful 22 before being bowled by Abell, before the same bowler sent Barber back to the pavilion shortly after. Podmore was the last wicked to fall after a brilliant 52 off 62 deliveries, caught by Banton off the bowling off Gore, leaving Middlesex with a total of 179 at the end of their innings.
Somerset in their reply got off to a sticky start after losing two wickets with just 18 runs on the board, with Barber and Podmore picking up a wicket a piece.
With Rouse and Byron at the crease Somerset were able to steady their innings and saw it through till tea at 94-2.
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DAY ONE - LUNCH UPDATE
Winning the toss and electing to bat, Middlesex openers Savin Perera and Tom Lace put on 34 for the first wicket before Lace was caught by Rouse off the bowling of van Meekeren for 18.
George Scott joined Perera in the middle and the pair had put on 45 for the second wicket when Perera was trapped in front by Abell for 24.
Scott fell soon after, caught by Bess off the bowling of Gore for 30, and he was joined back in the Pavilion by Robbie White, who came and went for 9, with Abell again picking up the wicket.
Kolk then fell for a duck, with Gore collecting his second wicket of the innings, which brought Captain Podmore to the wicket with the Middlesex score on 90 for 5.
Podmore and Manuwelge saw it through til lunch, with the pair going in to the break on 21* and 5* respectively and the Middlesex score on 118 for 5.
