CC1 v Leicestershire and Friends!!
By Grockle
September 8 2026
We go to Leicestershire for the first time in a long time for a Championship match and Jake Ball returns to a sidse that is pretty much the one that beat Glamorgan in 3 days last week. the rain has delayed the start but the Foxes have won the toss and decided to bowl first. We face ex Somerset players, but not the ones you would expect. no Ben Green or Josh Davey in the side but we will be seeing Nathan Gilchrist who has been loaned to Leicestershire by rivals Warwickshire for this game. He'll then be returning to Birmingham to help in their attemp to win the CC1 when they play the Foxes in their lasat game. What a coincidence that he should be surplus to requirements when Somerset are pushing to for the title and then is necessary in their own Championship run in
CC1 v Leicestershire @ Grace Road Tuesday 8 September 2026
The rain means we are delayed unti after noon before we get play. Leicestershire win the toss and will bowl first. We expected to play against ex Somerset men but neither of the expected ones are in this side. Ben Green is injured (a problem for them as he is their top wicket taker in this tournament) and Josh Davey is not present either. We will face Nathan Gilchrist, once of the Somerset parish, who is on loan from rivals Warwickshire for 2 CC1 games before returning to Edgbaston for the last CC1 fixture - gosh what a coincidence that is!! It seems he got in past the regulation that is designed to stop rivals lending players to opposition sides because they did not change the date from last year. Had this game started tomorrow he would not have been able to play for Leicestershire it seems
So Somerset go into this game with the following eleven;
Thomas, Lammonby, Abell, Rew (w), Nicholls, Vaughan, Gregory (c), Overton, Pretorius, Leach, Ball
Jake Ball returns to the side in place of Lewis Goldsworthy for this game as Thomas and Lammonby finally start the first innings in cloudy conditions on a pitch with a very short boundary - possibly the result of Leicestershire being liable for a 19 point deduction after the game against Glamorgan which they may try to deal with by looking for maximum batting bonus points from this game. It does look like a very short boundary.
The game starts at 1:10 with 72 overs of the day to come. The commentators say the pitch looks green and very worn as Gilchrist starts the bowling with a no ball and the first scoring shot from Josh is a driven four which plus extras gets us to move to 9 for 0. Ben Mike takes the other end opening over. and we have moved on to 11 with another 2 extras after 2.
By the end of the 5th over we have moved to 18 with Lammonby off the mark and our openers start to put together a score and by the 10th over without a change of bowling we have moved on to 42 without loss with Thomas on 18 from 40 with Lammonby on 7 from 25. the rest are extras.
We get the first change for the 11th with Alex Green taking over as the Leicestershire commentator mentions that the home side have rested nearly all of their last game bowling attack for this one (plus a couple of injury changes of course). Somerset go past 50 in the 11th off Josh's second four cut through the cordon to move the batting side to 51 from 63 balls taking Thomas to 26 from 44. Another 50 starting partnership from this opening pair who seem to be settling into their roles in the side very well.
The second bowling change comes in the 14th as New Zealand international spinner Ajaz Patel takes over at the pavilion end at 62 for 0. By the 15th the openers have moved on again to 73 without loss with Thomas still the more productive of the two with 36 from 60 while Lammonby has taken the support role on 17 from 36.
Thomas goes to 50 off Patel with a single at the end of the 19th over. His 50 arrives off 72 balls (his 6th 50 this season with 2 goind on to the ton). The century partnership (the second) comes up at 101 for 0 in the 20th over with a slog swept four from Lammonby taking him to a 50 ball 31 off Patel.
At 20 overs Gilchrist has returned giving Green a breather and we hav2 102 on the board. We've hit 'Nelson' by the end of the next. After 25 overs it's 130 for no loss as the home side keep chaning the seamer at one end while Patel twirls in at the other. Leicestershire have given away 22 extra in those 25 overs, mostly in no balls.
Tom Lammonby reaches his third consecutive CC1 50 at 148 for 0 in the 29th over from 70 balls with a four off Mike. The pair take two later in the over to move the score to 150 in the 29th moving at 5 an over.
Rehan Ahmed opens his bowling account with the 31st over at 161 for 0
As the sun comes out with blue sky over the ground the sides go off for Tea!! After 33 overs Somerset are 173 for 0 with Thomas on 61 from 122 and Lammonby on 68 from 84. Rehan Ahmed has caused some worries including nearly getting through Thomas' defence at the very end of the session to go with another early no ball dismissal (the fourth in 2 innings for the visitors) which I have to admit I missed.
We are back after a short interval with 39 overs left in the day's play as Alex Green starts the second phase of Day 1. He also gets the first breakthrough as with the 5th ball of the 35th over he pushes Lammonby into a kind of late cut that shoots out to the boundary and is caught well by Sheridon Gumbs diving forwards. He goes for 74 from 94 balls at 181 for 0.
Archie Vaughan returns to the number 3 spot for this game as Lewis Goldsworthy is not in for this game. Ben Mike is bowling at the other end at the start of this session. At 190 for 1 Archie records the 1000th first class run in his career with a four off Mike.
As we move into the 40th, a driven four from Vaughan brings up the Somerset 200 as he progresses to 9 from 9.
Josh Thomas goes to a century at 221 for 1 from 152 balls with 15 fours. His third century of a real breakthrough season for the young man. Almost immedaitely after that Archie departs for 21 from 32 becoming Gilchrist's first victim LBW at the start of the 46th over. The loanee has 1 for 57 from his 61 balls so he'll be grateful for that one and Vaughan has not pushed on again. 222 for 2 brings Nicholls to the crease.
Mike then produces an absolute peach which nips back on Thomas and takes the top of off stump to send the centurion on his way without adding to his score. Josh plays no shot and loses his off stump. 222 for 3 brings Abell in with the wicket starting to do a number of things it wasn't doing at the start of the day!!.
There is a semi-collapse and it continues as Abell is caught and bowled in the 48th over for 1 from 7. His 19th innnings is not more than 25 so he has not passed the world record he has equalled it. Out comes James Rew to look to reset this innings as it has moved from 221 for 1 to 229 for 4 in 3 overs as Nathan Gilchrist (now 2 for 57) faces his Kings of Taunton colleague in the Somerset keeper.
The first batting bonus point arrives in the 54th over with a single to Rew off Gilchrist which takes him to 4 from 22 at 250 for 4. Then for NO apparent reason in the 58th over with a 48 run partnership between these two playing Patel, Nicholls is stranded when uncertainty creates a run out with Rew coming for a second and Henry not getting off the mark and being run out by Gilchrist at the non strikers end by a mile for 26 from 35 at 277 for 5. That is a wicket just thrown away!!
Out comes Craig Overton and an innings that looked to be on track for something in excess of 350 is stuttering to a halt in the high 200s. From 221 for 1 to 277 for 5. Some good wickets for the hime side and some gifts here at Grace Road. The last one was a gift.
Unfortunately Mike, the best Leicestershire bowler, keeps coming. He gets COve with another beauty that jags away from him and is caught behind on 297 for 6. The tall allrounder has to go for 9 from 7 at the end of the 60th over with 12 remaining in the day. Out comes the skipper to join Rew on 27 from 41. He sees his side to their second batting point with a four off the next ball to move the score to 301 for 6. He then stays around to see Somerset start the last 10 overs of the day as a maiden from Patel finshes the 62nd at 309 for 6. It is important that this pair stay in until the end of play today if at all possible and then regroup for tomorrow.
Leicestershire in the later overs are suffering from resting most of their bowling attack because after having a very good first 10 overs, Mike starts to struggle as he is asked to bowl another 10 overs. In the 65th, his 20th, Rew hits him for 14 taking his runs total over 100 to 109 for 2 and Somerset to 330 for 6 with the keeper into the 40s and 7 overs of the day to go. Patel has also been asked to bowl a significant number of overs as he starts his 16th in the 66th. However, he has the next success as Gregory top edges his 5th ball after taking the spinner for a four and a six in the over. The top edge spoons to Ahmed and he goes for 27 from 17 at 340 for 6. Jack comes out in a kind of 'nightwatch' role though not protecting anyone particularly. Patel finishes the 66th with 1 for 76 off his 16 and we have 6 left in the day.
Somerset have lost 6 wickets for 139 runs after scoring over 180 before losing any. Not such a succesful second session given the progress in the first. After holding out against Ahmed, Leach does not against Patel and at the start of the 68th he is LBW to the sppinner for 0 at 344 for 8. Oh dear! We amy not see the day out after all as Pretorius comes out. Which Miggy P will we get this evening? There is the one who can bat - the one we haven't seen much of this summer and the one who can't buy a run for love nor money and leaves his batting brain in the dressing room in 2026. We are single figure furns form the 350 batting point so we are likely to see Jake out before the end of play and will miss out on that if thing play out the way they usually do. This has been a disappointing post Tea session for the visitors after looking in total control just before the Lunch break today.
Rehan Ahmed then bowls Pretorius for 2 not picking a googly and getting a sliver of an inside edge onto the wicket. Out comes Jake needing 3 for the 350 point and with 3.4 overs left. James is also on 48 from 65 as Jake survives the four balls of the Ahmed over left and gives James the opportunity to get the 3 runs left to add another point. There are 3 overs left as Patel bowls 69th as the whiole fielding side overs James the single to get the number 11 on strike. James is not interested in going for singles at the start of the over and there are four dots before the field comes in. James looks to sweep but doesn't get it and he is then nearly bowled as he blocks one on his toes. Jake is facing Ahmed without an increase to the score. They take a single off the 5th ball - not a great decision to be honest. But the last ball is pulled for four by Rew and that is his half century at 52 from 72 balls (he's never really looked in control but the addition is significant). It also brings up the next, and last bonus point one would imagine at 352 for 9.
Patel takes the last over and Ball faces it, blocks it out for 2 and we finish on 354 for 9. Well its one thing and another. A decent total but it looked more promising at lunchtime when we had the chance of 450 plus. The strip has done more in the late afternoon/evening then it did in the first session and we fell away more than one would have hoped. But would we have taken 350 ish after losing the whole first part of the day? Probably. Tomorrow is another day people. Let's see what we do with the ball before having a debate about Day 1.
Day 2
Every fielder is on the boundary as Ahmed starts the day to James Rew with every fielder on the boundary . 72 overs of the innings having gone and 104 overs planned for the day. Nathan Gilchrist takes the ball from the other end. The last pair survive into the 76th over when James goes down on on knee to try and slap the ball away and is judged to be LBW after missing it. Somerset are all out for 363 with Jake undefeated on 3 from 21 and Rew the last man out for 61 from 87 balls. Gilchrist finishes with 3 for 73 while Mike and Patel share 2 wickets each with Ahmed and Green taking singles (Nicholls was run out).
Somerset will be out to field in about 10 minutes with 98 overs to go in the day and Leicestershire looking to score over 363.
The Foxes start with the opening pair of Rishi Patel and Gumbs and they will be facing up to Lewis Gregory with the new ball first. Patel, in what will be one of his last games for Leicestershire as he is moving to Hampshire next season, takes a single off the first ball. Lewis is bowling to a 3 slip cordon and comes around the wicket to Gumbs. The bat misses the secomnd ball and he is hit on the pad in front and is out LBW to the third ball of the first over. Leicestershire are 1 for 1.
This brings Reham Ahmed in early on a pretty chilly morning and he plays out the rest of the first without scoring. The second of the day for Somerset will come from Migael Pretorius and his first to Patel is driven to the boundary rope and that is the only scoring shot of the over. 5 for 1 with the loss of Sheridon Gumbs without a score. Rehan takes a single in Gregory's second to get him off the zero marker as Patel moves to 6.
By the 4th over the home pair are starting to settle but Patel gets a thick edge on a ball that is moving away and he is caught by Rew for 12 from 13 balls and the Fowes are 22 for 2 before the end of the 5th over. Out comes Hamza Shaikh at number 4 facing the Somerset captain on 2 for 7 from his 2 and a bit overs. The 5th over ends with the score still on 22.
The Leicestershire livestream seems to have lost the first session as it sits at Lunch on Day 2 and the dentist called so the summery is that just after the Leicestershire 50 arrived Craig Overton bowled Shaikh for 7 from 37 balls at 53 for 3 in the 16th over. In came Nick Kelly at number 5 but after some tight bowling from CoVe and Ball, Rehan Ahmed was the next victim 8 balls later at the end of the 17th without the score having changed. The allrounder was caught behind off Ball for 23 from 49 balls to bring the skipper Stephen Eskanazi to the crease but after adding only another 10 runs in the 21st he was the next to go again caught behind and again off the bowling of Ball so only 2. Cox came to the crease and he and Kelly moved the score to 83 for 5 at the Lunch break. Kelly has 17 from 30 balls and his partner has 11 from the 20 he has faced. the Somerset bowlers have been making hay in the first session with Gregory taking 2 for 17 from his 6 overs, while Jake has 2 for 28 from his. Craig has 1 for 2 from his 6 with FOUR maidens while Miggy is not yet in the wickets with 0 for 26 from his 7. We have had 26 overs of the innings and Leicestershire are presently some 280 runs adrift of our first innings total with 5 wickets left and about 72 overs left in the day. Another first session of a day to the visitors is probably the assessment.
The return to the middle sees Craig Overton start with the 27th and his first ball goes to the rope for four from Cox. Kelly also takes a boundary from the Somerset man who goes for 10 in his 7th after only going for 2 in his first 6. He is joined in the attack by Migael Pretorius. His 28th moves the batting side to 103 for 5 as a four from his last ball giver them the 3 figures with Kelly on to 31 and Cox on 17. They have moved on to 114 by the 30th over with Craig still storming in and giving away very little and he has Kelly plumb in front with the 4th ball of the next over and it is 114 for 6 with the Foxes bat goen for 39 from 46.
The new man is Mike and he sees out the over without scoring. He gets off the mark in Overton's next with a boundary from his partner before he is also LBW to the Somerset man straight through to his back pad at 121 for 7. Ben Cox goes for 24 from 36 with 3 fours meaning Ajaz Patel will stride out to the middle. Craig ends his 10th over with quite remarkable figures of 10 overs 5 maidens 3 for 16 and 10 runs of that came in one over!! Superb attacking bowling.
Miggy gets some reward while struggling today as Mike is LBW for 2 from his 9 at 121 for 8. Josh Hull (who has replaced Alex Green who is injured) is the next man in. By the 40th over he has yet to get off the zero as the bowling is tight and on the money. Archie Vaughan is brought in for that 38th and he bowls a maiden first up as well. He also produces the same for the 40th. By the 42nd Leiocestershire have stumbled to 129 for 8 and Hull still does not have a runs after facing 23 balls. Jake Ball returns for the 43rd and at 130 he bowls Hull who did not score a run from the 4 overs of deliveries he faced. 130 for 9 trailing by 233 and nowhere near passing the following on total. Gilchrist is the last man in and the last pair put up a fight taking the score to 150 in the after Patel takes Leach for four, the second attempt next ball he is dropped on by Archie Vaughan on the boundary - an easy chance to be fair. He runs around, gets both hands to it but it comes off his fingers. Finally Leach gets Patel to go for another one and this time he IS caught in the deep by Lammonby for 26 from 57 at 157 all out. They are 206 behind with Nathan Gilchrist not out for 9.
They take Tea with that wicket and the question now is will they enforce the follow on. The only issue is that Lewis Gregory has not bowled at all since his first spell. He has been on and off the pitch during the innings but has not gone anywhere near the ball. Ball and Overton shared the lion share of the wickets with 3 each. Gregory took 2 in the 6 overs he bowled at the start of the innings while Miggy and Jack picked up one each at the end.
After Tea, Somerset come out to bat again so they have NOT enforced the follow on. This must be because of the issue with Lewis maybe or they just want to keep this side fit by resting its bowlers and hoping that deterioration of the pitch may put the emphasis on the spinners later on in the game.
Josh Thomas and Tom Lammonby come out to put some more runs onto the 206 run lead they already have. Gilchrist starts with the new ball and his new partner is Josh Hull after Alex Green had to retire with an injury. Nathan goes for 2 while Josh bowls a maiden to start his spell. They bowl for the first 7 overs before Mike takes over at the "Hull" end. There is no loss of wickets and after 8 we are 21 for 0. After 10 the honours between the bats are even. We have 26, 12 from the bat of Josh from 29 balls and 12 from the bat of Tom from 31 a lead of 232.
Hull returns around the 15th and we finish it 42 without loss. It's all going swimmingly by the 20th. Still without a wicket loss the opening pair have moved on to 83 with Lammonby passing Thomas on 45 and 36 respectively with little happening except for the odd ball spitting abit and a couple going past the outside edge. Niether bat has lookoed in any real trouble.
The milestones arrive as the lead paasses 300 at 94 in the 23rd followed by Lammonby reaching 50 from 70 in the same over with a shot for two runs.from the 5th ball from Patel (A) at 97 for 0. The 100 arrives in the next over from Gilchrist with a boundary pull/top edge for Josh over the slips. it also beings up his fourth 50 of the season with 50 from 69 balls at 103 for 0. It also of course brings up another century partnership for the pair.
Rehan Ahmed comes on for the 26th over with some leg spin at 106 for 0. He does get the first ray of sunshine for his county in his next over, the 28th, when he finally dismisses a Somerset second innings bat with Josh Thomas being judged LBW 2 balls into the over to leave the field with 55 from 83 balls at 113 for 1.
Archie Vaughan replaces him though not for very long as he is plumb in front to one that goes straight on at 119 for 2 and he leaves with 4 to his name from the 10 balls he faced. When it doesn't go for you it doesn't go for you I'm afraid. Ahmed has 2 for 4.
Henry Nicholls is the next man in and he sees out the 30th over. By the 35th the bats seem to have given the initiative to the bowlers as we have only moved forward by 5 runs to 124 with the Kiwi bat only getting 2 from his first 13 balls. After 40 overs the pace has not excatly picked up. Somerset have moved on to 135 for q with Nicholls in no hurry with 6 from 30 and Lammonby becalmed in the 60s on 68 from 117. There are 6 overs left in the day and Somerset lead by 341 and seem to be content to play out the day.
They aren't going to stay though because Tom L edges the 5th ball of the 41st into the hands of Rishi Patel at first slip who is in very close. At 137 for 3 he wanders back for 69 from 120 balls and Tom A has to come out to handle a 5 over spell. He fails to score in the first 2 he has to deal with and finally gets off the mark with a four in the middle of the 44th off Ahmed. The 150 arrives before the end of it via a quick two.
2 overs are left in the day and bats manage them well in fact they take 3 boundaries off the last one to move the score to 166 for 3, a lead of 372. Tom Abell and Henry Nicholls finish the day both on 18.
The end of a pretty one sided Day 2. Somerset have 6 sessions to turn this game into a win with a massive lead (probably far more runs than they need even now). The only question is when will they feel they have enough on the board to put Leicestershire to the sword and get this one over with. The first session tomorrow will be fascinating. Will we see another 3 day victory?#
Day 3
200 overs left in this game with 104 today and 96 tomorrow. So the declaration today will be a tricky thing to set up. Somerset are 372 ahead at the moment witrh 7 wickets in hand. Both Nicholls and Abell are both on 18 (Tom a run a ball, Henry about double that). We start with over 46 this morning.
Patel starts the day for the home side with Ahmed taking the second ball. Jason Kerr set out his reasoning for not following on yesterday. He didn't think the Foxes would capitulate as easily the second time around, he wasn't happy batting fourth on a wearing pitch and he wanted to rest his seam attack. All reasons but we'll see how it pans out over the next 2 days.
After getting a sighter in the first two, Nicholls suggests that they might look at pushing this as he straight sixes Patel to start the drive to something 500y one would imagine this morning. By the end of the 4th today, the bats have added 20 runs.
We pass the 400 run lead point in the 53rd over at 194 for 3 from a Nicholls single. This is followed by the 200 arriving from an Abell single in the 54th that takes him to 34 while his partner is now in front of him on 35.
After that Henry pulls away from his partner and at 220 for 3 he pulls Rehan to go to 51 from 78 balls with a six into the seats. He has pulled away quite significantly at at least a run a ball this morning where Tom came into today with a run a ball total but he has been much more circumspect this morning while the New Zealander is making hay
Tom finally arrives at 50 from 62 deliveries with 6 fours - his 6th 50 of the season with a 50% completion rate. He also moves to 966 runs for the season. Somerset have 238 and are 444 ahead. Nicholls reverse sweeps Patel to take the lead over 450 in the 61st over. He then sends the ball to the rope from his countryman for a second four.
A single off the first ball of Ahmed's next over takes Somerset to 250 and the excitement is increased as a husky pops onto the pitch for a run around. No one seem to own this one so we have a bit of a wait while a steward takes charge of the animal.
In the 63rd over, Leicestershire get some relief as Tom Abell is caught by Rishi Patel off Ajaz Patel for 58 from 70 at 256 for 4. A lead of 462 as James Rew takes a single off his first ball. Despite the loss of Tom Somerset have put on 90 runs in the first hour but he'll have to wait until Headingley to see if he can pass the 1000 runs in a season next week.
A big six from Rew moves Somerset close to a 500 run lead at the end of the 66th over which moves him to 21 from 9 balls and his side to 291 for 4 as the first seam bowling of the day is to be delivered by Warwickshire loanee Nathan Gilchrist. The boundary has resulted in a ball change after Hamza Shaikh spends an age off the field trying to find it. Two balls later Kelly catches Rew a foot inside the rope for his 21 from 10 and seam has taken a wicket very quickly today. The dismissal brings Overton to the crease and the new pair take the total over a 500 lead at 294 with a two run shot from Henry. We are probably now only waiting for the Nicholls century or a specfic number of overs , given the fact that the Kiwi is upping the scoring rate again. Nicholls is still going at over a run a ball this morning.
Hull is also on so seam has replaced spin as we move towards the lunch interval and Somerset move past 300 in the 68th with an Overton single.
Nicholls achieves the century at 316 for 5 with a 9th four to go with his 4 sixes. It took 112 balls and it is his first century for the county. Somerset then declare with a lead of 522 runs with 79 overs left in the day (assuming 2 lost for the changeover) and 96 tomorrow. They've added 150 this morning in 22.4 overs.
The good thing is that Lewis Gregory opens the bowling for Somerset in Leicestershire's 2nd innings and delivers a maiden over. Migael Pretorius opens at the other end and we all hope he has a better time than his first set of spells in this game.
They have 1 run after his first and another after Gregory's second and by the fourth they have 4 with 2 each to the openers, the same as the bolwers actually. But with the third ball of the 5th, Rishi Patel plays at one he ought to have left and he pokes it into the buckets that are Craig Overton's hands. 4 for 1 before the lunch break as Ahmed arrives at the crease with a very shaky spell to bat through before the interval. He takes a four from his second ball to move the score on to 8 for 1 and a single means the 5th ends at 9 for 1. There may be 2 more overs before lunch.
Another tight over from Miggy means the home side have 10 as they move into the last over before the break. But the over doesnot end as Rehan becomes the second wicket of the Gregory/Overton partnership after just missing the two balls before. He is caught for 6 off the 5th ball of the 7th and Somerset take lunch a ball over.
10 for 2 at Lunch on Day 3. Somerset need 8 wickets. Leicstershire need 513 to win this game.
Gregory and Pretorius continue after the last ball is delivered after the break with Hamza Shaikh replacing Rehan in the batting pairing. Everything is fine up until the 12th over when Craig comes in first change at 21 for 2. Just after a glorious driven four from Sheridon Gumbs, he leaves the next one and hears his offstump dislodged. He departs for 7 from 30 at 25 for 3 and the afternoon is off to a start for the visitors. Kelly is the next man in. Jake Ball completes the first full bowling change of the innings with the 14th over. Leaicestershire are 3 down but they are less than 500 behind now!!
Craig just keeps on coming and in the 19th he has Hamza Shaikh LBW for 24 from 43 balls at 46 for 4. He has 2 for 14 from his 4 today. In comes Eskinazi - hoping for a better second dig for his side after getting only 2 in the first. He helps to push Leicestershire past 50 but in the 25th he snicks to Archie Vaughan in the slips at 60 for 5 and departs for 9 from 21. Craig has 3 for 18 from his 7 overs. Cox is the new batsman coming in with his side 463 runs behind and 5 wickets in hand.
Kelly is not long for this innings. In the 27th, that man again has the home bat wafting at a wide delivery and snicking it straight into the keeper's hands and at 65 for 6 Craig has 4 for 18 and 49 first class wickets for the season. Mike comes in with not a lot to play for, 4 and a bit sessions to bat 453 runs required and 4 wickets remaining. Presently Overton has 7 for 46 in this game as Jack Leach comes on for the first bowl of this innings with 27 overs gone.
Somerset give the big man a rest in the 31st as Ball takes over with 86 on the board and 6 wickets down, all of which Craig has had a say in, taking four and catching the other two!! However, Jake is doing his bit as well because after about 20 minutes at 89 Mike is LBW to Ball for 9 from 11. This brings Patel to the middle with 434 runs still needed and this presently is possibly our highest non innings victory in Somerset history should we get the last 3 with little addition to the score. Presently it is a win by 419 runs against Kent at Bath in 1937. However, Patel takes 8 runs off the first 5 balls he faces so that may not be on. He does in fact move them below that 419 deficit as he moves to 16 from the 11 he has faced. It also moves the home side into a 3 figure total and after the 36th over and Jack's 5th the score is 112 for 7.
In the 38th, Ajaz Patel departs as Josh Thomas takes a close catch to send him on his way for 18 from 16 at 118 for 8 off the bowling of Jack Leach. The side them get told off for celebrating on the pitch by the umpire though I think it is only Craig who actually walks across the batting area. Josh Hull is the next man in fresh from a 92 in the last game. The locals are not all that hopeful that he is capable of getting the 400 and odd required yet.
One point to make however is that the captain has not been on the pitch for any real time in this session after lunch. He only bowled the spell at the start of the over and has been covered by 12th man Josh Shaw for most of the time after the interval. If he is injured it is a problem for us.
A good thing is that the Somerset supporters seem to be right under the radio mike and we have had comments from Tractor and others all the way through the afternoon interval. The Tea interval arrives with Leicestershire needing 388 runs to win. Cox has a very stubborn 39 from 58 while Hull has 8 from 13.
Craig starts the attack after Tea with 135 for 8 on the board. He concedes a four to take the score to 139 before his bowling partner Jack Leach gets Ben Cox to feather one to Rew at that score for 39 from 58 at the start of the 44th. Gilchrist is the last man in - it seems conspiracy theorists' "Warwickshire plan" using Gilchrist didn't come to anything spectacular.
Overton is looking for the 5-fer bowling to Hull and Gilchrist but the score moves on to 145 for 9 at the end of the 46th. Jack's first ball has Gilchrist LBW for 2 at 145 and that is all she wrote. They win by 377 runs - the biggest win against Leocestershire ever!! Hull is not out 12 from 26. Jack finishes with 3 for 30 from his 9.1 overs
We go back to the top of the CC1 with 22 points from the game and now look to see if Hampshire can do us a favour at Nottingham - though it looks doubtful. No problem if not, we go again at Headingley next week. A good solid batting performance backed up by consistently good bowling. The only worry will be the fitness of the skipper so we will keep a close eye on that over the next few days.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:09:11:21:50:56 by Grockle.
We will face Josh Davey and Nathan Gilchrist (on loan for the rest of the CC1 from Brum). No Ben Green in their squad (have to assume it's because of injury). Oh and there is Alfonso as well!!
Our squad is'
[b]Thomas, Lammonby, Abell, Nicholls, Rew, Goldsworthy, Gregory, Overton, Vaughan, Pretorius, Leach, Shaw, Ball[/b]
Still no place for TKC or Will Smeed who are both still coming back from injury. We already know that Alfie Ogborne and Thomas Rew are out for the rest of the season.
We go into this one in pole position by 4 points - now that is a something. Last time we played the Foxes in this we won by 9 wickets but tomorrow is another day.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:09:07:21:50:29 by Grockle.
Very generous of Warwickshire to loan a bowler to Leicestershire just in time for their match against one of Warwickshire's rivals for the county championship.
Wonder which of the two he'll be more motivated for?
Squad: Holland, Ahmed, Cox, Davey, Eskinazi, Gilchrist, Alex Green, Cumbs, Hill, Kelly, Marshall, Mike, Ajay Patel, Rishi Patel, Shaikh, Scriven, Tattersall.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:09:07:22:56:03 by cricketjerry-mouse.
Not the only delayed start this morning. Play at Hove and Cardiff is also bot starting on time
Pitch inspection at 11am
Also Leicestershire have been charged over the condition of their pitch at GHrace Road for their August game against Glamorgan.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2026:09:08:10:33:45 by Grockle.
😂
Anthony Gibson says no play until after lunch.
For the Twitterati
Once again we have a county setting the minimum boundary possible for a game - it looks minute on the Grace Road outfield which I am reliably informed is the biggest in the CC1
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2026:09:08:11:08:20 by Grockle.
Let's hope we can take advantage of some batting points.
Meantime, Notts are 20/3 v. Hants. on a very green pitch, with a certain Mr Abbot bowling.
Grizzers
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:09:08:11:10:54 by Grizzers.
I suppose if the boundary ropes are brought in, it means there is less outfield that has to get dry enough to play...
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:09:08:11:50:22 by Bagpuss.
Good old Gibbo. -
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:09:08:15:54:53 by Loyal of Lhasa.
And there's responsibility on us to prepare a satisfactory pitch as well. Would be less nerve racking for the groundstaff to play Surrey away!
Just imagine if the game was as nerve wracking as the last home game to Surrey two years ago and this time with the title hinging on it.
And while the close of play score is very slightly disappointing considering they were 200+ for one wicket, I think Somerset would have taken that at the start. And the rate at which we scored - 4.91- means the lost time at the start of the day is much less of a consideration than it might have been.
The Met Office forecast suggests little rain between now and the end of the game, so I think we should bat on tomorrow in the hope of reaching 400.
But what do I know?!
Thanks again for the techies for getting this forum up and running again!
Absolutely superb by Josh and Lammers before tea, but for no apparent reason, we then decided to drink a barrel full of headless chicken juiice.
On losing the toss, I’m sure we would happily have taken 350+/9 at the close, but from 181/0, we really should have batted Leics completely out of the game and got maximum points by so doing.
Over to the bowlers to hopefully do their business with gusto. Anything more than Messrs Rew & Ball can add meantime would be very welcome, (hopefully following Tom Scriven & Josh Davey’s example from a few days ago !).
Grizzers
Thought Ball did a great job last night ...
We've done very well to shield the youth until this season, where they've really shone (Thomas especially)
Ready for Day 2 at Uptonsteel
Nice early wicket though...
That said, when aren't there doubts about his fitness?
I’d say Gregory, Kerr, Abell, Overton etc are onsite, know the pitch, conditions, weather and fitness situation, and have a great deal more experience and knowhow than anyone on this site or Facebook, so I trust them.
I would not want to be chasing 140 in the fourth innings on this wicket with its turn and uneven bounce.
Weather doesn't look an issue (or didn't yesterday), Somerset are a long way ahead in the game, and if Leics are batting fourth facing a big (hopefully huge) total, there's lots of pressure on them.
Let's not see a repeat of Somerset's batting yesterday after they reached 200.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:09:09:16:24:14 by sfwithers.
Geoff Boycott's granny would have batted better.
Grizzers
We presently have a 348 run lead with 2 days to go. Unless there is an issue I also agree with the commentators about overthinking a game.
It's all fun when there is a follow on and declaration in a game - never ceases to cuase everyone problems.
Unlike some of the bigger counties we don't have a bottomless pool of bowlers - heck, on here we thought we were down to scantily-clad bones before the season started. And I think we would be hard-pushed to find a fellow county rushing to loan us a player a la Gilchrist to Leicestershire; that is, even if we hadn't already passed the ECB's loan-by date.
Imo we are fielding our best bowling attack here at Leicester. Three of the quicks are over thirty. Two (at least) have already had injury issues this year. We need to be sure they are fit and fresh come next Tuesday at Headingley, and then not hitting the wall at Taunton the following week. Get this wrong and we could be facing up to Surrey needing a win with JT Langridge and Josh Shaw opening the bowling. Which, with all due respect, wouldn't fill me with the greatest confidence.
It's not about how many overs the bowlers had already bowled today to dismiss Leicestershire. It's how many overs on top of those they would need to have bowled to dismiss them again. My impression is that teams who follow on rarely collapse like a house of cards again. And with Somerset's skipper and opening bowler seemingly hors de combat this puts pressure on the other three, and miles in the legs.
It is only day 2 of the match. There are signs the pitch is deteriorating a bit - which may help all the bowlers, and bring Jack and Archie into the equation (I do wonder if the decision to try the spinners when Leicestershire were 8 down was as much about having a look at how the pitch behaved as much as it was getting the final two wickets). The forecast is good gor the next two days. Bat until 45 mins before lunch tomorrow to hack them off, then get at them.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2026:09:09:19:01:02 by Bagpuss.
The last time Somerset put on century opening stands in both innings of a County Championship match was back in 2016, when Marcus Trescothick and Johann Myburg put on 123 and 100* v Notts at Trent Bridge.
The last time Somerset put on opening partnerships of 50+ in both innings of a County Championship match was in 2018, when Eddie Byrom put on 55 and 64 v Essex at Chelmsford.
The temptation to enforce the follow on has to be tempered by the need to keep bowlers legs (& the rest of them) as fresh as possible. As Leics showed last week (& as we are all too aware at Taunton, albeit on a different surface), bowling out a team sometimes takes far longer than expected. The very last thing we need is more broken bodies ahead of quite possibly the most important two games in our history.
Another exemplary bowling performance today and although we became temporarily becalmed after another great start from Messrs Lammonby & Thomas, we are in an excellent position, with two days to play & hopefully good weather.
Now all we have to do is deliver !
Meantime, at least Hants are showing some fight against Notts., even if Glamorgan meekly rolled over v. Warks..
Grizzers
We have lacked a solid starting point for years and every time we have we have struggled to create a winning situation in the first half of games. NOW we are doing that because we have a base when we bat.
The bowling is holding again which was the surprise but the batting is there IN FORCE.
Since the days of Brian Rose as coach we've been moaning about not having the resources to get 'over the line' in tight CC1 situations.
By accident we seem to have found the missing link even though the management have avoided the necessary investment in red ball specific resources we seem to have found them and look where we are.
Keep the prayer mats out and facing in the right direction but we may have the parts of the jigsaw we've searched for for 2 decades suddebly.
Winning the pennant would be glorious - brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it - but being in contention for the pennant is the important thing. I do bang on about it, but I think we take this club's unique longevity in Division One a little for granted sometimes.
But a concerted effort to win the thing has nearly always evaded us or not been strong enough because that 'number 1' factor has been missing. Consistency wins the CC1 and we've started to be consistent. Even with a less than stellar bowling line-up, giving the attack enough runs to be able to keep at it seems to have resulted us in winning games we used to draw or even lose because of poorer first innings performances.
However, we haven't won anything yet so we need to put this one to bed and then go to Leeds and do the same thing.
And I was just wondering, have Somerset ever had more lefties in the team?
I make it Thomas, Lammonby, Nicholls, Rew and Leach, with Ogborne and Goldsworthy in reserve.
In the mid-1970s we'd have had Rose, Denning, Close and Kitchen, and Peter Robinson played until 1978, so they may have all played together. And having just checked Wikipedia, one can add Dennis Breakwell.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:09:10:11:49:38 by sfwithers.
I’m always for an earlier declaration, though. Sorry to keep harking back to Lancashire’s championship season in 2011 but one of the reasons Lancs won it was that the batting wasn’t good enough for negative declarations to foul up the bowlers chances of taking 20 wickets. Chapple only had the luxury of declaring once this season and set Hampshire about 450 in 4 1/2 sessions. Lancashire won off the first ball of the last over of the match after miraculous 9 to 57 by Simon Kerrigan. He defended his decision by saying it enabled him to set attacking fields but Hampshire were not going to get anywhere near .
Groan.
Grizzers
The vinegar and brown paper must be working...
We have had better attacks in past CC1 campaigns that did less and very few called our bowling resources 'stellar' at the start of this season when they wer all fit.
The fact is that they have done a great deal more than was expected with a limited bowling resource and last year's assessment of how much worse we were this year seemed to ignore that our 2025 campaign was bolstered by over 50 wickets from a certain spinner
I'm not complaining though one has to wonder where we would have been had both Craig and Lewis been laid low by long injuries.
The BBC is pretty much the best you can get, trained broadcasters mostly with a knowledge or research completed on the sides they are talking about balancing what is happening with items of interest to the wide listening public.
When we amateurs did this in the days when the BBC walked away from ball by ball radio commentary in the early 2000 and teens, we were told a few things. "Not everyone listening can see" "Not everyone listening is scoring the game" "Not everyone knows the layout of the local stadium" "Not everyone is following every ball so keep updating the main statistical points of the game".
Even now with the assumed visual aspect of the commentaries, a large number of those things still apply.
Topley Senior still got on this commentary doing his usual of completely reversing a stated position he has almost offered to die for in the recent past.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:09:10:13:37:43 by Grockle.
And I think - so far at least - we've got away with the loss of Alfie Ogborne. When he was fit and firing he looked genuinely good and offered something else.
No matter how well we do this season I really believe we need to sign another top bowler - and if we were to win, that might be a more appealing prospect.
(And no, I'm not counting any fowls - I've supported Somerset too many years for that.)
The amount we've relied on Overton this year is astonishing, and he has continued to deliver, including pocketing a couple of catches in the slips today.
Quote:Grockle
COve a wicket away from a 5-fer and 50 in the season. He's had a say in every wicket in this innings - he's just a great competitor. I thought his best might well be behind him - I was very very very wrong.
I went to COve's Walk and Talk before the season started and he was well up for the challenge this year - and boy, has he delivered.
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Quote:Loyal of Lhasa
Leicestershire need to score only 2.95 an over to win this one. We're doomed!
And I thought I was negative!
(Yes, I know you're joking.)
Don't know what the telling-off for Somerset was just now - celebrating on the pitch. Not for that wicket as none of the players went on the pitch apart from Leach and he delicately went across it.
Odd.
Worries about Lewis Gregory's fitness to go with that but we have rest days and a week so hopefully they canbe put to bed.
it unfortunately does not look like the equally shell shocked Hampshire are going to do us any favours at Trent Bridge as they crumple this afternoon.
But we are where we are because we win so we will have to do it again next week AND the week after and see hwo that makes things fall/
They get an extra day off now, and I don't think Gregory could have been that injured, or (I'd like to think) he wouldn't have bowled himself. I think Overton, Ball, Pretorius, Leach and Vaughan would have accounted for Leicester, though perhaps not as quickly.
Quote:But they now have a 34-run partnership.Somerset LaLaLa
Hampshire really are bad at batting
Come on Hants!!
Echo the above thoughts re Craig Overton. I remember thinking at that w & t meeting before the start of the season, that he really did seem determined to play in every game & not be dissuaded by any thoughts that JK might have had re rotation. He is a one man battering ram and simply exudes the will to win.
Extra impressive also are our newly minted, yet already established opening batting partnership. Long may that continue, along with the sterling efforts of Henry Nicholls.
Lewis Gregory also took a brace of wickets in each innings, despite his fragile state. Let's hope he can be wrapped up in rapid repair cotton wool ahead of what could be the most important two games in our history.
Finally, away from Leics., for anyone who hasn't seen JTL's rip-snorter today, this is well worth a look........
[x.com]
(Apologies - have just noticed the above is also on another thread. Worth looking at twice though !).
Grizzers
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:09:10:20:06:41 by Grizzers.
I do have something of a fear of Yadav at Headingley next week ; it brings back uncomfortable memories of Maharaj twice.
Although it's unlikely to happen, never have I wanted Hampshire to win a match more than tomorrow's. But they have those home-grown Notts boys, Pennington and Stone to contend with - why don't Notts use local talent like our Gregory, Leach and Overton...
It would be great if we could have Langridge back for our final two matches. As a goodwill gesture we could offer to lend Glos our Shaw...
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:09:10:20:50:05 by Loyal of Lhasa.
I've long-since lost the knowhow of the system when it comes to loaning players, but I thought most of the rights were with the county lending the player.
But what do I know...?
***
I'm staggered that the Somerset pace attack is still, er, largely in one piece but I live in hope. Or I could pray for two weeks of torrential rain for the entire country...
So we're exactly where we were a week ago. No better, no worse. Again, would've taken that when we list the toss on Tuesday.
I would price up the title race now as 6/4 Warks, 2/1 Somerset and 11/4 Notts (or 40% Warks, 33% Somerset and 27% Notts, if you prefer). I would have Somerset an even bigger price, if not for the possibility of rain reducing the last two rounds to draws.
I would be delighted for my pessimism to be exposed as mistaken though!
If this is our year it will be even more satisfying because we went the hard way and our critics will have Sweet FA to blame our victory on.
If it isn't? Well there's always 2027
Essex will be fighting for first division survival (the moreso if Leics. avoid the pitch points penalty they are presently facing. Wasn't that supposed to be concluded yesterday ?), so one can but hope that'' put some lead in their pencil v. Warks..
Grizzers
As you say. If we do this, we'll do it the hard way and that works for me I have to say. I think that after 2028 the CC1 will be further downgraded because as we know the ECB really want wall to wall white ball short stuff and a 10 team 'Premier League' with 10 3 day CC1 games if they can wangle it. So the Championship title will become less and less of an achievement as it becomes more and more of an exhibition tournament.
I'd love to think I am being overly cynical but I really don't think I am. So let's win it and die as a county with honour going into the twilight of the early 2030s with dignity before popping off the the cricket equivalent of 'Switzerland' to put an end to it all.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:09:13:10:56:02 by Grockle.