LONDON, CMC – All three West Indies pacers – Kemar Roach, Jason Holder, and Jayden Seales – involved in the English County Championship on Friday, endured wicketless toils.
The long-serving Roach was part of the Surrey attack that regrouped after lunch and launched a comeback to dismiss Somerset for 285 in their first innings in their Division 1 second round match at The Oval.
Roach ended with none for 37 from 12 overs, but Surrey, seeking a third successive championship title, deserve credit for seizing their opportunities with some excellent bowling, led by leg-spinner Cameron Steel with four for 50 from 12.1 overs and pacer Gus Atkinson with three for 57 from 19 overs.
Tom Lammonby led the Sommerset batting with an even 100 and shared 178 for the second wicket with Australian Matt Renshaw, whose runout for 87 after a mix-up with the century-maker sparked the visitors’ batting collapse.
Only Somerset captain Lewis Gregory with an even 50 resisted the slide.
Openers Rory Burns, not out on 13, and Dom Sibley, not out on 29, then continued the momentum for Surrey and carried the hosts to 42 without loss at the close.
Holder was part of a Worcestershire attack that endured a hard-fought day at Trent Bridge, where hosts Nottinghamshire rattled up 305 for six in their first innings at the close after they decided to bat in another Division 1 contest.
The former West Indies captain finished with none for 28 from 15 overs, and the Worcs pacers stuck to their task on a day of attritional play, where once the Kookaburra ball had become softer, there was little lateral movement.
Notts captain Joe Clarke led the way with 105 and left-hander Ben Slater supported with 70, sharing 133 for the third wicket to prop up the top order batting after the hosts stumbled to 34 for two.
Lyndon James was not out on 39 and Calvin Harrison was not out on 20, putting on 67 unbroken for the seventh wicket to push Notts pass the 300 mark.
Seales was one of eight bowlers Sussex used on a pitch that did not appear to be offering, and three Leicestershire batsmen made half-centuries to propel them to 326 for eight after they were put in to bat at Grace Road.
The Trinidadian pacer ended with none for 64 from 16 overs after Sussex had the hosts 63 for three mid-way through the morning session on a green-tinged pitch, but they were not able to drive home their advantage.
Rishi Patel hit 12 fours and two sixes in a top score so far of 87, Australia batsman Peter Handscomb contributed a steady 51, and all-rounder Liam Trevaskis was not out 82 on his debut for the club.
