Somerset’s Lammonby Shines With 90 Runs As They Extend Lead Over Kent

Following an early evening stumble, the visitors overcame Kent’s first innings score of 284 thanks to hits from Tom Lammonby (90) and Matt Renshaw (66). The debutants for Kent, Matt Parkinson and George Garrett, took 2 for 116 and 2 for 61, respectively, but Somerset had a potentially substantial lead of 90 thanks to a stand of 101 between Kasey Aldridge and James Rew.

Aldridge reached 50 without losing, and Rew reached 57 before being removed under strange circumstances due to a disruption brought on by a renegade motorbike.

After 119 overs were lost to weather on days one and two, a draw always seemed the most likely result, but if Kent were going to force the issue, they had to take advantage of the new ball.

They were unable to. When Sean Dickson cut Wes Agar between second and third slip, he was on four. However, Jack Leaning and Daniel Bell-Drummond both tried for the catch, and neither was able to hold on.

The hosts had one happy moment during the otherwise dismal morning session, which concluded with Somerset on 108 for 1, when Dickson failed to pay in, nudging Garrett to Leaning for 17.

Although Lammonby reached his fifty with a streakily edged four off Garrett, he played with a reserved elegance.

Then, at mid-on, Joe Denly lost a diving chance and dropped Renshaw on 58 off Parkinson. In his subsequent over, though, Parkinson struck gold, producing a ball that pitched outside off and whirled violently back into Renshaw’s middle stump.

Parkinson’s uninterrupted 25-over spell gave home fans hope that this season may offer something more than the hardships of the previous year, even if that was the lone wicket of the afternoon session.

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He occasionally misplayed balls, but he always appeared to be creating something. In the second over following tea, he tricked Lammonby into taking a swipe that Ben Compton caught at square leg.

A mini-collapse came when Lewis Goldsworthy fell to the new ball, driving Nathan Gilchrist to Joey Evison at extra cover for 35, and Tom Banton blasted Garrett for six but was caught behind off the next ball for 28.

Somerset were on 255 for 6 when Lewis Gregory cut Wes Agar to Daniel Bell-Drummond, making just one. However, Aldridge and Rew took advantage of some shoddy fielding to put Somerset ahead and give them their first century-plus total in a summer’s opening innings since 2014.

When a man on a mobility scooter lingered in front of the sight screens, it perfectly captured the drabness of the late evening. Shortly after, Rew slid onto the next ball, skyscraping and nearly falling before Harry Finch saved him.

When Aldridge hit a single off Leaning’s last ball of the day, he reached his half-century.