MATCH REPORT: Mitchell’s magnificent century sets up final day against Somerset
Daryl Mitchell made his Red Rose debut a memorable one by making a superb century to add to the three wickets he took yesterday as Lancashire and Somerset battled hard to try and gain an advantage on the third day of this LV= Insurance County Championship match. The day ended with the game intriguingly poised with the visitors on 114-3 and leading by 149 runs.
Mitchell’s philosophy is to “play with a smile on your face, puff your chest out and see what the game brings you,” and the New Zealand international did just that today, clearly enjoying the responsibility as Lancashire steadily chipped away at the Somerset total of 361 and relishing the personal battle with his good friend and team-mate Matt Henry.
The first two sessions became a hard-fought battle as both teams tried to wrestle an advantage, with Mitchell handling the developing situations expertly, defending when necessary and choosing the right moments to play a more expansive, aggressive game.
Resuming the day on 72-2, Lancashire lost Will Williams to the first ball of the day via an edge off Craig Overton to wicketkeeper Steven Davies. That same combination struck three times for the visitors as Steven Croft departed for 7 and later George Balderson for an excellent 71.
Balderson’s alliance with Mitchell provided the early backbone of the Red Rose reply to Somerset’s 361 as the pair fought back well from a position of 82-4 after twenty minutes of play. Balderson, 41 not out overnight, soon reached his sixth first-class fifty to add to his 91 at Trent Bridge in the previous match.
The left-hand opening batsman had progressed nicely to reach 71 just before lunch but fell to the third ball of a new spell from Overton that broke a 77-run partnership for the fifth wicket.
A lively over from Matt Henry straight after lunch saw Dane Vilas help himself to a couple of boundaries but also trapped lbw for 15 leaving Lancashire 176-6 and in a spot of trouble still 150 runs in arrears.
By then Mitchell had already signalled his intent, greeting Josh Davey's introduction into the attack with a lofted drive for four over mid-on, bettered four overs later when he hit a six to the same spot off the same bowler.
George Bell lent great support in contributing 38 to a 57-run partnership for the seventh wicket before edging the excellent Overton’s fifth delivery with the new ball to Aldridge at second slip.
And Tom Hartley helped reduce the deficit below three figures by tea with Mitchell moving up through the gears after the break with a flurry of attacking shots, taking 14 runs off one Aldridge over including a six over long-on, as 61 runs arrived in a hurry from the seven overs after the interval.
Hartley joined in, smashing Aldridge for six over midwicket, until he was caught hooking Henry on the deep midwicket boundary for 47 to end a vital 88-run partnership that had brought Lancashire right back into the game.
Four balls later Mitchell – who had reached his century from 173 balls with 9 fours and 2 sixes – was receiving a standing ovation when last out for 105, the injured Anderson not batting, with Lancashire 326 all out but only 35 runs behind.
Mitchell’s debut century was just the tenth by a Lancashire batsman on their Championship debut, and he is only the second to score a hundred and take three wickets on debut along with Ralph Whitehead in 1908. Some debut.
Tom Abell struck a good 48 at the start of the Somerset second innings after Williams had removed Steven Davies for 9, before the visiting skipper was bowled by Hartley attempting a reverse sweep.
And the Red Rose attack built some good pressure over the closing hour of the day, capped when George Bartlett was bowled by Saqib Mahmood in the last over to leave Somerset three wickets down and 149 runs ahead.
Tomorrow could be a interesting final day.
“It was nice to get a few poles tonight and we will see what tomorrow brings,” said Daryl Mitchell.
“We will try and be relentless with the ball tomorrow, build pressure but I think the ball in many ways is in their court and how they want to come out in the morning and set the game up.
“We’ll keep trying to build pressure and take wickets, and hopefully get a chase later on.
“It’s a nice wicket and the new ball is important,” he added.
“I thought the way Saqib came in at the end of the day with a reversing ball was pretty good. He brought some great energy late in the day – which we needed – so you take your hat off to him.
“Getting that wicket in the last over helps set it up in the morning.”
Mitchell was modesty itself regarding his outstanding century in difficult circumstances.
“It’s always nice when you contribute to the team and get a score on the board,” he said.
“It was good fun. I thought Somerset bowled well in periods, especially with the second new ball.”
And Mitchell was impressed by the contributions from youngsters George Bell and Tom Hartley.
“I think there are some seriously talented young batters in this team,” he said.
“It was awesome to see them do their job and do with a smile on their face. They enjoy their cricket and are only going to get better as their careers go on.
“I thought they played with a lot of class, and it bodes well for Lancashire.”
Ken Grime
Photos: Barry Mitchell, Luke Adams, Dan Adams.
