Yorkshire cling on to preserve unbeaten run

Somerset 562 for 7 dec (Hildreth 166, Trescothick 97, Trego 94, Rogers 51, Allenby 51, Rashid 4-160) drew with Yorkshire 311 (Lyth 106) and 141 for 6
Scorecard

Somerset failed in their concerted bid to beat Yorkshire on the final day of their Specsavers' County Championship game at the County Ground, Taunton.

Despite dominating the game for the majority of the four days, Chris Rogers' side came up short in the final session as Yorkshire held on to their unbeaten start to the Division One campaign. However, the loss of 19 overs in the day, to rain, might just have been the difference between winning for the first time this season, and yet another drawn game

Resuming their first innings on 306 for 9, Yorkshire were quickly bowled out for 311 when Jamie Overton bowled Steven Patterson for 32. It might have been an early setback, but Patterson and Jack Brooks had certainly done their bit for the cause. In adding 74 for the 10th wicket, the pair had not only taken up valuable time, but had added valuable runs too. Somerset, as expected, enforced the follow-on and bowled particularly well with the new ball.

Bowling coach Jason Kerr had highlighted the need for early wickets, at the end of day three, and though Adam Lyth and Alex Lees batted with due care and attention, prior to lunch, the afternoon session brought its reward.

Lyth, who has scored over 800 runs at the County Ground in his last seven matches, was first to go, bowled by Overton when playing back to a short ball that kept low.

Will Rhodes followed at 45 for 2 - caught at short leg by Tom Abell off the bowling of Jack Leach, and four runs later, Lees, who had scored only 11 off 97 balls, was bowled by Overton when offering no shot.

The tea interval provided Yorkshire with some respite, but when Andrew Gale was caught by Leach off the bowling of Tim Groenewald at 69 for 4, Yorkshire were facing an anxious final two hours.

Overton, whose spell on Monday had been described as 'world class' by Kerr, continued to bowl with real purpose. His third wicket came in the 53rd over when Gary Ballance carelessly flicked the 22-year-old bowler to Leach at square leg.

At that stage, a victory for Somerset looks a distinct possibility. However, Jack Leaning and Liam Plunkett held out in the final hour and Yorkshire left for the long trip home with their unbeaten record still intact. When the captains shook hands shortly before six o'clock, Yorkshire had reached 141 for 6.

Overton, Lewis Gregory and Groenewald continued to bowl well, without any good fortune, after tea, and director of cricket Matthew Maynard will be delighted with that as the side prepares for the T20 season, which for them kicks off on Friday against Kent, at Canterbury.

Still, who knows what might have been had the inclement weather not have intervened.