Cidermen still in control despite losing quick wickets

Somerset ended the second day still in control of their three-day match against Cardiff UCCE at Millfield School. Despite losing six wickets cheaply when they batted for a second time by the close of play the Cidermen were 254 runs in front with four second innings wickets in hand.

Resuming on 11 for three overnight, the students lost three more wickets before Ed Brown, who hails from Weston-super-Mare and who has played for Somerset at Under-19 level, came to the rescue.

The 19-year-old former Priory School pupil who plays for Weston-super-Mare and who is in his second year at Cardiff showed no fear for his more illustrious opponents as he displayed a wide range of attacking shots before being caught by Keith Parsons off Steffan Jones for 62, and his team were eventually dismissed for 189.

For Somerset there were three wickets apiece for the returning Matt Bulbeck, Steffan Jones and newcomer Simon Francis.

When they batted for a second time the Somerset batsmen were soon in trouble against the students, and before close of play had reached 54 for six with Steffan Jones and Matt Bulbeck the not out batsmen.

At the end of the day Somerset coach Kevin Shine told me: "We bowled well, and everybody had a useful run out. When we batted again they bowled well and put the ball in the right place. We played some expansive shots, but the boys put their hands up and admitted it. That sort of thing does happen so I'm not too worried about it. Overall I'm happy with the day."