Lower order gives Somerset the edge

Somerset have taken a first innings lead of 65 to put themselves on top after Day Two of the vital County Championship match at Taunton. 3 wickets from Jade Dernbach and Zafar Ansari helped dismiss the hosts after Surrey’s poor display with the bat on the first day.

The first port of call this morning was to reach 200 and a first batting point, however that wasn’t to be as both Tremlett and Dernbach fell without a run added to succumb us to what seemed like a below par 195. I know it’s not the role of the last 2 batsmen to get runs, but it would be nice for once if they could help us out a bit.

But Jade and Trem did give us the perfect start with the ball, as the former made Trescothick play on without scoring and the latter had fellow opener Chris Jones caught behind an over later. Tremlett was keeping it tight from one end, but just like against Middlesex, the other bowlers were leaking runs left, right and centre with Nick Compton especially looking fluent. Meaker had gone for 11 in his first 5 balls but with his final ball of his opening over had James Hildreth LBW to reduce Somerset to 46-3.

The runs didn’t stop there though, as Kieswetter played in his usual manner, scoring well over a run a ball, punishing some wayward bowling. But de Bruyn got his wicket just before the lunch break to keep us within touching distance in the first innings. Compton was still looking good, until he played on to Dernbach for 66 and five balls later Dernbach had Alex Barrow LBW as Surrey scented a first innings lead.

But Somerset bat deep and Peter Trego and Craig Meschede put on a partnership of 68 to take their side into the lead, before Zafar Ansari removed them both in the space of 3 deliveries just before tea and a spot of bad light. It wasn’t over yet for Surrey though, as they still had to comprehend bowling at a number 10 in Piyush Chawla who has a First Class average of over 30 with 4 hundreds and he started to hit his side into a great position and really put Surrey to the mill. Once again a lower order partnership was troubling us after we had managed to get ourselves back into a good position.

Batty and Ansari finally managed to see off Chawla and Gregory, but not before the lead had reached a level that could prove plenty in the context of this game. Bad light delayed our start to the innings, but in the play that we did get, Burns and Sibley saw it off to close on 13-0.

If you would have asked me at the beginning of the day if I would have taken today’s outcome I would have probably said yes, but we had opportunities when they were 6 and 8 down to have a firmer hold on the game, but as usual we failed to take them. There is still two days left to play, so no need for the batsmen to try and do anything stupid, but there is a high possibility that rain will play a part tomorrow, which could scupper a chance of victory for either side.