Will Jacks’ second half-century of the match guided leaders Surrey to their fourth LV= Insurance County Championship win of the season, a three-wicket success against Somerset at Taunton.Â
But the home side put up a valiant fight on the final day, Lewis Gregory finishing 110 not out, his fourth first-class century, and Peter Siddle making 42 to extend their second innings total from 319/8 overnight to 394 all out.
That set Surrey 193 to win and they slipped to 70/3 before Jacks followed his first innings 88 with 62 in a total of 195/7. Kasey Aldridge claimed a career-best 4-61.
Somerset’s ninth-wicket pair of Gregory and Siddle battled away for more than an hour and a half at the start of the day. Unbeaten on 71 at the outset, Gregory carried on where he had left off the previous evening, batting with confidence on the now placid surface.
A back-foot forcing shot off leg-spinner Cameron Steel through the covers for his eighth four brought up his hundred off 166 balls. Siddle looked equally assured as the partnership grew to 91 before the Australian fell lbw to a very full leg-stump delivery from Dan Worrall.
What a final day. Surrey get home by three wickets after a superb fightback from @SomersetCCC. Packed full of the stuff that makes county cricket so magical.
Here are your highlights 🎥🎥⬇️ pic.twitter.com/NhUbPfH88M
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) June 15, 2022
Somerset still required a last-wicket stand to hold out much hope. But Marchant de Lange edged his second ball through to wicketkeeper to give Worrall his third wicket. There was time for three overs of the Surrey second innings before lunch. Ryan Patel struck a brace of fours off Siddle to help take the score to 21 by the interval.
Patel and first-innings centurion Rory Burns continued to be positive at the start of the afternoon session, the latter pulling Gregory over mid-wicket for six. Everything was looking straightforward for the visitors until a wobble on 65, begun by Burns, on 25, pulling a catch to fine-leg off Kasey Aldridge.
Without a run added, Patel was brilliantly caught at slip, one-handed to his left by Gregory off the left-arm spin of Roelof van der Merwe. Jamie Smith then had his off stump uprooted by Aldridge and, at 70/3, Surrey were suddenly on the back foot.
Tall seamer Aldridge went past the outside edge several times. But Ben Geddes and Jacks were unmoved, gradually averting any thought of a crisis. They built steadily until Jacks eased the tension with three fours in an over off van der Merwe. By tea, the pair had added 58 and a further 65 runs were required.
In the final session, Jacks was given a life on 38 when Abell spilled a chance at second slip off the impressive Aldridge, who struck later in the same over as Geddes, on 25, pulled a short ball straight to square leg.
Gareth Batty spoke to @backandacross after a hard fought win 🏏 pic.twitter.com/bJMYGfuKy0
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) June 15, 2022
That brought in Hashim Amla, unable to bat higher after a spell absent from the game through illness, with the total 137/4 and 56 needed. He fell for 9, lbw to Siddle, and when Abell atoned for his earlier miss with a fine diving slip catch to send back Cameron Steel, Surrey still required 32.
Jacks had hit 12 fours when having his middle stump uprooted by Siddle, but Jordan Clark and Jamie Overton saw Surrey to their target, leaving Somerset with precious little to show for a spirited effort. Surrey continue their unbeaten march in all formats of cricket this season and claimed 22 points for the win.
