Somerset 68 for 5 (Rew 17*, Cliff 3-31) trail Yorkshire 212 (Bairstow 79, Gregory 3-46, Ball 3-49, Pretorius 3-51) by 144 runs
An opening day of dramatic swings saw the ball dominate the bat as title-chasing Somerset faced mid-table Yorkshire at Headingley.
League leaders Somerset began their penultimate-round fixture in strong fashion, with captain Lewis Gregory and overseas seamer Migael Pretorius taking three wickets each to bowl Yorkshire out for 212.
Home skipper Jonny Bairstow top-scored with 79 from 111 balls, but new-ball quick Ben Cliff launched a stunning reply, taking three wickets to leave the visitors reeling at 24 for 4. Somerset closed the day on 68 for 5 from 28 overs.Somerset now head into the final fortnight of one of the closest championship battles in recent memory, holding a slender advantage. They, along with Nottinghamshire and Warwickshire, are separated by just five points.
And just when they needed a strong start, who better to deliver than their captain and South African overseas quick? However, Yorkshire fought back fiercely, spearheaded by Cliff, who claimed three wickets in an innings for the first time in red-ball cricket.
Bairstow and George Hill, who contributed 45 and later produced a spectacular one-handed slip catch, forged a crucial 83-run partnership for the sixth wicket. This recovery took mid-table Yorkshire from 85 for 5.
A rain-affected morning saw Yorkshire reach 77 for 4 after 25 overs on a used pitch that offered movement. Gregory, who lost the toss, claimed two wickets, with Jake Ball and a run out accounting for the others.
Initially, Somerset, asked to bowl first, were slightly too full, allowing Yorkshire a bright start. However, Gregory soon struck, trapping openers Adam Lyth and Will Luxton in the slips for 11 and 22 respectively.
Sam Whiteman then chopped on to Ball, while Matthew Revis was run out at the striker’s end by a direct hit from Josh Thomas at midwicket after James Wharton called him through for a quick single.
Further success came Gregory’s way as he yorked Wharton during the early stages of the afternoon.
Bairstow and Hill settled in for Yorkshire, with the latter even picking up an all-run four to wide long-on at one point.
While Bairstow has already had his time at the international level, Hill’s moment is surely yet to come, with growing calls for his inclusion in England’s Test plans.
His performances with the ball have stood out for a couple of years, but this summer the 25-year-old has married excellence in both disciplines while also proving to be a highly capable slip fielder.
The pair advanced against both seam and spin, with 2019 Ashes hero Jack Leach back on familiar territory.
By the time Bairstow—dropped twice on his way to 50—reached his half-century off 74 balls, Yorkshire had progressed to 160 for 5.
Bairstow was particularly strong on the drive against seam and executed sweeps and reverse sweeps against Leach’s left-arm spin. However, Hill and Dom Bess fell caught behind to successive Pretorius deliveries, leaving the score at 168 for 7 in the 53rd over.
Yorkshire reached tea at 182 for 7 before losing Kuldeep Yadav caught behind off Ball shortly thereafter.
Bairstow took the hosts past the 200-run mark before being caught at long-off against Pretorius. Ball then wrapped up the innings by trapping Cliff at short midwicket.
Gregory finished with figures of 3 for 46 from 18 overs, while Pretorius claimed 3 for 51 from 15.
The wickets continued to tumble, with Ben Coad catching Tom Lammonby at first slip and new-ball partner Cliff trapping Thomas lbw, reducing the score to 11 for 2.
Opener Archie Vaughan, watched by his father Michael, pulled Cliff for six. However, Cliff gained revenge by bowling him and then dismissing Tom Abell caught behind the next ball, leaving the score at 24 for 4 after 12 overs.
Hill later assisted Matthew Revis in dismissing Henry Nicholls with a stunning one-handed catch to his right at first slip.
