38 THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 2021 Lewis Gregory hits out during a dazzling Warm-up beats the chill innings that helped BRIDGWATER 1st XI (245 for 4) tain Sam Edmunds and Rob Hill Somerset to an beat Shapwick and Polden 1st XI started steadily but then increased amazing win (180 all out) by 65 runs their scoring rates such that Shap- over Middlesex wick brought up their 50 in the 11th at Lord’s in With organised sport finally back on over. their opening the agenda, Shapwick and Polden Unfortunately, after striking his County made the short trip to Bridgwater for fifth boundary, Edmunds guided the Championship the first pre-season friendly for both next ball to point for 24. The score match of sides. moved past 70 with Shapwick still the season Bridgwater won the toss and chose just 2 down, but following his fine to bat first on a bright but chilly knock, Haggett took control of the afternoon at The Parks, and Shap- game with the ball. wick made an early breakthrough as He had Spencer well caught at slip Wayne Spencer (1-62) bowled Bell- by Stuart Butt before getting a slight- inger with a full toss. ly bizarre return catch from Hill, who Hallaran and former Shapwick had looked confident for 35. player Calum Haggett put on a part- Haggett saved the best for his fifth nership of 135, scoring at a good rate and final over however, having and with Hallaran in particular pun- Jacques Luckins spectacularly Pic: Adam Davy/ ishing anything short. caught at cover by Hayes, removing PA Wire The drinks break at 20 overs gave Lang’s stumps first ball, and then Shapwick the chance to regroup and completing his hat-trick by having Oskar White (2-34) removed Hallar- White caught at mid-off, leaving him an just a few balls later, caught by with figures of 5-19. Spencer having crashed 85 from just Shapwick had slumped to 87-7, Stunning run chase earns 69 deliveries, with five maximums. and Calum’s brother James decided Eckland looked busy, striking 6 to launch a counter attack, striking a boundaries in an innings of 29, but rapid 22 from 14 balls before holing eventually used his feet once too out to deep mid-wicket. often to White and was well stumped Frost played a few nice strokes Somerset unlikely victory by Rob Hill. before being bowled for 11, leaving Haggett retired on 63 to give others Josh Luckins and last man Barr plen- a chance, but the expected late flour- ty of time still to bat. REPORT BY SAM DALLING culprits. The gloomy Lord’s conditions ish from Bridgwater never arrived, Luckins attacked superbly, striking [email protected] The Seaxes were eventually dis- were perfect for the Bamber- with Butt (26*) and Coles (17) find- ten 4s and a 6 in an excellent innings missed for 311, others finding runs Murtagh combination to thrive but ing it difficult to get away some tight of 54 from 42 balls, before Barr was MORE than once during four bitterly much harder to come by. Any notion Abell and Banton added 78 for the bowling from Spencer, Josh Frost bowled by Allcoat (2-15) after a stub- cold days at Lord’s, Somerset’s LV= that Gregory would be undercooked second wicket, albeit riding their and Tom Barr. born partnership of 44. County Championship campaign having spent much of pre-season in luck at times. Barr (1-34) removed Coles in the Shapwick fell comfortably short on looked destined to start with a heavy isolation following the Pakistan Come the final morning the equa- penultimate over and Bridgwater 180, but the contest was a good defeat. Super League, were quickly dispelled tion was simple: Middlesex needed 7 finished on 245-4 – a good total but work-out for both sides and the most Few sides recover from 89-9 - the by yet another five-for (5-68). wickets while Somerset required 173 less than it might have been given important thing was that cricket was predicament the Cidermen found Jack Leach was stingy and collect- runs. With the skies blue for the first the platform laid in the first 20 overs. being played. themselves in on Day Two - while 24 ed a wicket, while Overton and Josh time, that fabled tricky first hour was Run scoring was challenging at the Roll on the return of supporters hours later a gargantuan chase Davey had a pair each. navigated with necessary caution. start for Shapwick against the pace of next week, when Shapwick host looked on, Middlesex having extend- Somerset’s reply started disas- Soon after though Bamber struck Skidmore and Hayes, with Hayes Timsbury at Northbrook Road in ed their lead to 254 with seven wick- trously, the Taunton tryptic of Toms twice within a baker’s dozen of deliv- (1-21) removing Mason for 2. Cap- another friendly. ets still in hand. Banton (6), Lammonby (5) and Abell eries, first nicking-off Abell (84) But set 285 for victory, fourth (4)) all falling within eight overs. before wrapping Steve Davies (0) on innings half centuries from captain Lammonby’s slow trudge towards the pads. Murtagh’s return immedi- Tom Abell (84), George Bartlett (76 the pavilion suggested he was ately before lunch saw off Overton not out) and Lewis Gregory (61 not unconvinced he had tickled Tim (5); momentum was with Middlesex. out) – the latter’s knock dazzling – Murtagh behind. With 98 still required and only four helped secure the most improbable Not long after the visitors were wickets remaining, undoubtedly it of four-wicket wins. nine down and still 224 runs in would have been a nervous Somer- Had Somerset, who once again are arrears. At that point the contest set dressing room as the sandwiches amongst the title front-runners, appeared over after sorcery from were served. But they would not wanted a test of character, they cer- master and apprentice duo Murtagh have belonged to Gregory who has a tainly got it, and the manner of the (4-46) and Ethan Bamber (3-24). temperament cooler than the frost fightback had Abell purring. Even an 83-run last wicket part- that settled on the outfield each “We let ourselves down in the first nership between Marchant de Lange morning. innings,” he admitted. “So to come (51 from 50 balls) and Jack Leach (28 In the space of 30 minutes after back like we did was pleasing. We not out) only added a whiff of the interval it became clear which speak about it quite often: it’s one respectability. way the game would go. Having driv- thing being good as front-runners, In need of quick second innings en Murtagh authoritatively down the The clubhouse at Harptree Villages Cricket Club but it’s another thing when your wickets, a fired-up Overton removed ground in the session’s first over, backs are against the wall, coming both Max Holden (1) and Robson Gregory helped himself to a flurry of from behind in games and still get- (13) cheaply. But Nick Gubbins (37) boundaries and even inspired confi- Excited to play once more ting results. and Steve Eskinazi were steady, and dence in partner Bartlett. “The mindset was really positive, at 113-3 Middlesex were cruising. The glue that will hold many a AftER the disappointment of the Hartpree is a modern, well-equipped with the way we’d got ourselves back Enter Leach who snared Robbie Somerset innings together for years shortened 2020 season because of clubhouse when allowed to open into the game. We let ourselves down White (1) to set in motion a dramatic to come, Bartlett had been measured the Coronavirus pandemic, Hartpree and the team is usually well-sup- in the first innings - I don’t think that collapse, the final seven wickets fall- until that point. Villages - like all grassroots cricket ported off the field as well. was a true reflection of the wicket or ing for just 30 runs. Inspired by Gregory, though, an clubs up and down country - are The club caters for players of all how good we are as players - and we Overton held a magnificent catch attractive back foot punch brought looking forward to playing again this ages and abilities and look to give wanted to put that right.” diving low to his right off Davey to up a deserved half century, while a month before starting the 2021 sea- opportunities to play to anyone who Somerset were returning to the remove Eskinazi for a stoic 53, and cover drive off Toby Roland-Jones son in May. joins the club, whether it’s for league scene of their Bob Willis Trophy final thereafter only Martin Andersson was a shot of the day candidate. Whilst the club enjoyed the limit- cricket or more relaxed evening disappointment, while Middlesex (12) reached double figures. The roar from the Somerset dress- ed programme of games allowed by friendlies. Whilst indoor nets have were back at cricket’s spiritual home Overton (3-26), Davey (3-16) and ing room when Gregory clipped into the relaxation of government guide- fallen foul to the pandemic, outdoor in red-ball cricket for the first time Leach (3-18) all bagged three, Mid- the leg side to secure the win rever- lines in August and September, it is nets commenced last week - running since 2019. dlesex limping to 143. berated around St John’s Wood. hoped for a full season this year, every Tuesday and Thursday thereaf- Day One belonged to Sam Robson “It was freezing cold and for the “Lewis has such ability with the albeit with some restrictions still in ter - ahead of the first pre-season who had made 165 by the time he bowlers coming back for their sec- bat,” said Abell.