Spectators treated to full day's play on day three
22 May 2021
Tom Abell’s 132 rescued three bonus points for Somerset at Bristol as the visitors made 300 for eight declared against Gloucestershire before the home side closed day three 16 for two.
With almost two days lost to rain and an horrendous forecast for day four, bonus points are the only target in this West Country derby and Abell played a true captain’s innings to see his side edge the ledger.
At 176 for 7, Gloucestershire looked set to deny their neighbours any bonus points at all before Gregory made 57 from No. 9 in a stand of 116.
Abell took Somerset to 300 before they declared, denying Gloucestershire the chance of a third bowling point with 8.3 overs remaining of the 110 bonus-point period.
With rain predicted to wipe out most of Sunday’s play, that eighth-wicket partnership should see Abell’s side edge the match tally and move a little closer to Gloucestershire at the top of group 2.
It was Abell’s eighth first-class hundred and first of the season, in 255 balls with 11 boundaries.
On a wicket playing sluggishly having been undercover for so long, he sensibly waited for anything on his legs to pick up most of his runs. He eased David Payne through cover to reach a hundred before playing the shot of his innings - a sweet straight drive off Matt Taylor.
But until Gregory arrived with a 77-ball fifty it was lone resistance as Somerset again proved brittle.
Resuming 45 for one with only 20.2 overs possible on the opening two days of the match, Bryom and Abell took the score to 85 but Payne had Byrom edging an away-swinger to first slip where Kraigg Brathwaite held a juggling catch and a slide began.
Hildreth drove at Payne, leaving a gap between bat and pad the width of the Avon Gorge, and was bowled for 15 before Worrall took three wickets in eight deliveries.
Craig Overton lost the skirmish of the allrounders as he edged Ryan Higgins behind for only 15 and at that stage, Gloucestershire were enjoying a jolly nice day in front of a healthy crowd and under blessed sunshine.
But Somerset have perfected the art of the lower-order rally, duly provided this time by Gregory.
There was time for Chris Dent to push Overton to point and James Bracey to drive and edge Josh Davey behind before the day was out.
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