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Shaw, Akhter and O Price take wickets as Somerset declare 441/3 on day one

28 March 2025

By Somerset CCC

Sean Dickson staked his claim for a starting birth in Somerset’s opening County Championship fixture against Worcestershire next week by making an impressive century against Gloucestershire on the opening day of this three-day pre-season clash at the Cooper Associates County Ground.

Indeed, it was a good day for batting as Tom Lammonby, Tom Banton, Tom Abell and James Rew also made sizable contributions as the home side finished the day by declaring on 441 for three.

On a bright but chilly morning in Taunton an uncontested toss saw the hosts batting first.

Dickson and Archie Vaughan shared an opening stand of 45 before the latter edged Zaman Akhter through to James Bracey to depart for 35.

It was a shame for the young all-rounder who burst onto the scene last summer because he had looked impressive in contributing the majority of the first wicket runs. Looking assured in defence and quick to punish any delivery not on the mark, he showed an impressive array of shots before nibbling at one that moved away slightly in the 14th over.

Dickson, who had been happy to let Vaughan accumulate at a greater pace, then took over the mantle and crashed the opening ball of the 15th over to the boundary to bring up the home side’s 50. He then repeated the feat off the very next delivery.

Lammonby joined Dickson, who was looking more assured with every ball, and the second wicket partnership reached 50 when Dickson beautifully swept Ollie Price to the boundary.

The Somerset 100 arrived in the 26th over and Dickson brought up his 50 from 89 balls.

By lunch, the score had advanced to 133 for one, with the partnership worth 88.

After the interval, Dickson continued to take the attack to the visiting bowlers as he and Lammonby worked through the gears, bringing up the 100-run partnership for the second wicket and taking their side to 150 in the 36th over.

Lammonby reached his 50 from 72 balls as the pair continued to amass runs to all corners of the ground.

The 150-run partnership came from 186 balls and the Somerset 200 arrived in the 45th over.

Dickson went to three figures with a straight six, at which point he retired not out for a fine 103 from 163 balls. His innings included 15 fours and a six.

Abell joined Lammonby at the crease and the pair took their side past 250 in the 55th over, but Lammonby fell agonisingly short of his century when he picked out Chris Dent at deep mid wicket off the bowling of Josh Shaw. The left hander had to depart for 95.

By tea, Abell and Tom Banton had taken Somerset to 285 for two.

The evening session progressed in a similar vein to its predecessors as runs continued to flow.

The Somerset 300 arrived after 68 overs before Banton reached his 50 from just 44 balls. However, the England international fell for the addition of just three more runs to his total, stumped by Bracey after attempting to reverse sweep Price at 343 for three. His partnership with Abell was worth 88.

The new ball was taken after 81 overs with Somerset on 359 for three, but it failed to stem the tide of runs that were flowing freely from the willow of the Somerset batters.

Abell reached his half century from 95 deliveries whilst Rew achieved his from 64 as the home side finished the day on top.

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