MATCH REPORT: Bowlers benefit on a rain-hit day against Somerset
James Anderson and Will Williams enjoyed early success to give Lancashire the advantage on a rain-hit opening day in the LV= Insurance County Championship match at Emirates Old Trafford with Somerset closing on 109-4 after being put in.
Of the three hours of play possible, the first proved to be most eventful as the Lancashire attack struck early to have the visitors struggling on 12-3 with both Anderson and Williams finding swing and movement.
Anderson had Tom Lammonby dropped twice in the slips before he made the initial breakthrough when Steven Davies edged the first ball he faced from the England ace to Tom Hartley at third slip for 4.
Lammonby then enjoyed a third let-off when he drove back up the wicket with Anderson just failing to hang on to a reflex one-handed catch, but the bowler was soon celebrating his 1,099th first-class wicket when Somerset captain Tom Abell played across a swinging delivery to be lbw for 1.
Anderson’s opening spell was an impressive 8-5-5-2 with the fast bowler looking in good shape ahead of the first Test Match of the summer in a fortnight’s time.
Williams added to the visitor’s woe when he trapped George Bartlett lbw for a four-ball duck but Lammonby, who made the most of his escapes, and Tom Kohler-Cadmore rallied with a determined 43-run partnership during the second hour of the morning to head towards lunch in better shape.
But fifteen minutes before the break Kohler-Cadmore, who had played some good counter-attacking shots, chose the wrong ball to attempt a big hit in the direction of midwicket, instead losing his leg stump in spectacular style to Saqib Mahmood for 20.
Lammonby (34 not out) and James Rew (20 not out) dug in to successfully negotiate their way through another searching spell from Anderson and Williams after lunch before rain arrived to end the day’s proceedings early at 2.45pm.
Both teams fielded new overseas signings with New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell making his first-class debut for Lancashire, the 704th player to do so, while Kiwi bowling all-rounder Matt Henry replaced Cam Bancroft in one of Somerset’s overseas berths.
Luke Wood returned to the Red Rose line-up with Tom Bailey rested and Colin de Grandhomme dropping out from the overseas spot to accommodate Mitchell.
Saqib Mahmood said it “was nice to be back playing here,” after his first game at Emirates Old Trafford since April 2021.
"The last game against Somerset (at Taunton) was hard work on that wicket and outfield but afterwards I thought 'it's just good to be back playing again.
The pace bowler, who picked up the important wicket of Tom Kohler-Cadmore, added: “I thought we bowled well as a unit this morning.”
“There was movement with the new ball and our seamers made the most of it.
“Then the wicket started to get better and we had to adapt to that.
“Hopefully now the wicket has been back under the covers this afternoon and tonight, it might give us that little bit more (assistance) off the wicket again tomorrow morning.
“We’ve had four draws and the weather has played a part in all of them.
“We’re happy the way we are playing our cricket, we just need a bit of luck with the weather especially on good wickets like this. You need to maximise the time you are out there.
“If we are disciplined, bowl in the right areas and there’s enough there (in the wicket), we will get our rewards.”
Ken Grime
Photos: Barry Mitchell & Luke Adams
