Trego batters Yorkshire - and the record books
Peter Trego, right, bludgeoned nine sixes in an unbeaten 103 to sweep Somerset to the second highest victory target in the history of the County Championship at Taunton today.
Yorkshire crashed to defeat in the face of an unstoppable display of big hitting after declaring with a seemingly insurmountable lead of 475.
Trego's onslaught dragged Somerset to victory with just over four overs to spare in a game that Yorkshire had dominated for the first three days.
Marcus Trescothick, 96, and Arul Suppiah, 131, earlier laid the foundations before David Stiff took out his frustrations from a below-par bowling performance to reach 49 from 32 balls. Stiff eventually edged behind to Jonathan Bairstow to give way to Langer, but Craig Kieswetter went quickly for 19, and it was Trego who thrust Somerset into the ascendancy with an incredible display of pinch-hitting.
Yorkshire were reeling, but the wicket of Langer with Somerset still 62 runs short on 414-6 ensured that all results remained possible heading into the last 10 overs. Trego was in no mood to slow down, and continued to savage the attack before rattling his final six to level the scores. Zander De Bruyn drove to the boundary to finished the job - and cue in a torrential cloud burst moments too late for Yorkshire.
Yorkshire batted for less than three overs this morning before making their second-innings declaration at 363-5 after a massive Ajmal Shahzad six straight down the ground.
Day 3: Opener Joe Sayers did for Yorkshire’s second innings at Taunton what Jacques Rudolph did for their first as he glued his side together with 152 to help them to wrack up a lead of 441.
Sayers - who was at the crease for just under six hours - has given Yorkshire a great chance of recording their first LV County Championship win for a year.
He lost his castle to the last ball of Day 3 as Yorkshire closed on 329-5.
Somerset lost their last first-innings wicket inside two overs this morning when Matthew Hoggard completed his five-for to bring Sayers and Rudolph to the crease with a Yorkshire lead of 112.
Rudolph went for a second-ball - but Yorkshire reacted superbly. Sayers was the main protagonist - but he did not lack support. Adam Lyth has been starved of first-team action for much of this season, but he underlined his potential with an excellent 71, and although Andrew Gale went for 16 later in the day Jonathan Bairstow pushed the run rate up dramatically with an unbeaten half century off 52 balls.
Sayers was removed with the last ball of the day when Zander de Bruyn rattled his middle-stump to end a potentially match-winning contribution.
Declarations are dangerous at Taunton - but Yorkshire are unlikely to bat for more than half an hour tomorrow, if they return to the crease at all, with the prospect of a morale-boosting win within reach.
STEVE CROSSMAN
Day 2: Matthew Hoggard led the way with both bat and ball as Yorkshire enjoyed great success in the very early and very late stages of Day 2 of their LV Championship match at Taunton to take maximum batting points - and close in on a lead of a 100-plus.
Yorkshire struck five times in the last hour to turn a game that was well in the balance firmly back into their favour.
Somerset were 277-4 approaching the close, and on course to pass Yorkshire's first innings of 438, but their hopes evaporated in dramatic fashion. Craig Kieswetter’s dismissal for 28 signalled the collapse: Peter Trego was trapped by Hoggard lbw, and Alfonso Thomas edged Hoggard behind to Jonathan Bairstow.
Marcus Trescothick enjoyed an epic day with the bat for his 146, but even he could not find an answer to the Yorkshire charge in dizzying heat. He looked very tired when chipping young paceman James Lee straight back into the bowler’s hands after nearly five hours at the crease. Somerset had slumped to 315-8, but Hoggard was not finished yet...he bowled Andy Caddick for one with another terrific piece of trademark swing to leave himself one shy of a fife-for overnight.
Like Jacques Rudolph on Day 1, Trescothick’s biggest problem was finding anyone to bat with as time and again the hosts' top and middle order got themselves out after playing themselves in. Trescothick produced 24 fours and a six before Yorkshire’s attack came to life late in the last session with devastating effect to leave the home side 326-9, trailing by 112 runs.
Before lunch Hoggard helped Ajmal Shahzad to take Yorkshire past 400 and maximum batting points with three well placed fours on his way to a crucial 26.
STEVE CROSSMAN
Day 1: Jacques Rudolph dominated Yorkshire's batting for six-and-a-half hours with an epic 191 as they closed at 375-7. It was Rudolph's second huge score on this ground in two seasons - his 155 last year setting up Yorkshire's victory.
Yorkshire are only 25 shy of maximum batting points - and they have their mercurial South African to thank. Both captains were desperate to win the toss and bat on a hot, sticky day and a hard, dry pitch and this time Anthony McGrath got it right. Rudolph tormented the Somerset field with a faultless knock in which he never looked like losing his wicket, ruined their economy with 29 fours. McGrath, who takes the No. 3 spot vacated by Michael Vaughan, put on 80 with Rudolph before lunch.
This pair gave Andy Caddick a hostile reception in his return to Championship action after his back operation as McGrath drove him twice to the cover boundary in his first over. Joe Sayers, who was bowled by Alfonso Thomas for eight, was the only disappointment of the morning. McGrath went quickly after lunch for 40 when wicket-keeper Craig Kieswetter dived sharply to his right to take a low edge, and Adam Lyth made a credible 36.
Rudolph played David Stiff on to his stumps with 13 overs left remaining, and Azeem Rafiq soon followed soon. Jonathan Bairstow struck nine fours in a handsome 39 - but was caught behind from the last ball of the day, leaving Ajmal Shahzad unbeaten on five overnight and awaiting a new partner.
STEVE CROSSMAN