Somerset 526-8 dec (128.4 overs)
Sussex 22-1 (5.1 overs)
Sussex (2 points) trail Somerset (4 points) by 504 runs
Centuries from Tom Abell and Craig Overton put Somerset in a dominant position on the second day of the Rothesay County Championship Division One match with Sussex at the Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton.
Unbeaten on 74 overnight, Abell hit 119 off 192 balls, with 12 fours and a six, while Overton, who began the day on 26, made 111 from 177 deliveries, with 14 fours and 2 sixes, as the hosts ran up 526 for eight declared. It was Abell’s 23rd first class hundred and Overton’s third.
The two 32-year-olds shared a sixth-wicket stand of 146 in 32.1 overs. Abell’s ton took his average in Championship cricket this season to 77.33 while all-rounder Overton is averaging 51.87. By the close of a rain-affected day, Sussex had replied with 22-1.
Play began on time at 11am, an Abell edge to third man for four off Tom Clark bringing up the half-century stand with Overton off 83 balls.
After just 3.2 overs, drizzle started falling, Somerset having registered a third batting point at 350-5.
Play resumed at 12.10pm, Overton taking two boundaries in an over off Henry Crocombe, who sent down several short-pitched balls on the easy-paced pitch. Overton moved to an accomplished fifty off 63 balls, with eight fours.
Another short rain-break interrupted proceedings at 375-5. With Somerset looking to accelerate towards a fourth bonus point, Overton pulled a six off Crocombe and by the time rain stopped play for the third time, the hosts needed just six more runs off four overs to achieve their target.
The weather closed in when lunch was taken at shortly after 12.50pm. Persistent rain delayed a restart until 4.25pm, with a total of 50 overs lost and a possible 36 left in the day.
Abell and Overton soon continued where they had left off, the former moving to a chanceless hundred with a single to mid-wicket off Crocombe. It was the third time that he had reached three figures in the Championship this season.
Sussex finally broke the partnership with the total on 443 when Abell connected sweetly with a leg side shot off Jack Carson but failed to clear mid-wicket where Clark took a sharp catch.
Overton needed one moment of good fortune on 99 when he was dropped by the diving Ollie Robinson at short mid-on off Carson. A two into the leg side in the same over saw him go to a 134-ball century, his second of the summer.
An otherwise assured innings ended when Overton was bowled advancing down the pitch to Coles. Lewis Gregory provided some lusty blows to boost the already significant total and moved quickly to 35. When he was caught behind off James Coles it prompted the declaration.
Sussex were left with a possible 12 overs to bat before stumps. Two were lost to a brief stoppage for bad light and the resumption saw Overton’s day get even better when he pinned Tom Haines LBW for six.
Play was brought to an abrupt end by floodlight failure with a possible 4.5 overs still to be bowled.
Somerset centurion Craig Overton said: “It’s been a great day for us. We set out at the start to get into a position where we can dominate the game. We have achieved that.
“We were aiming for one extra batting point so to get two was a bonus – and taking that wicket at the end rounded off the day in a good way.
“Tom Abell is in the form of his life. He won’t say it himself but he is in a great spot, scoring runs regularly to put us in good positions.”
Sussex head coach Paul Farbrace explained why Ollie Robinson had not bowled all day. He said: “There is no injury issue. We are just looking after him – as we are trying to do with all our bowlers.
“All of them have played six games in seven weeks and that is a lot to ask of a group of bowlers. There is nothing wrong with Ollie. We are just looking to share what has been a heavy work-load.
“Somerset have played well. We have rotated the bowlers so as not to bowl them into the ground. Now we have to bat very well in our first innings tomorrow.
“It was frustrating to lose a wicket tonight but that happens sometimes when you are on the back foot. We need to bat long and see where it take us.”
