Skipper and wicket-keeper Eddie Wilson, above, was second-top-scorer to Nick Compton as Yorkshire Second Eleven crashed to defeat by an innings and 71 runs in their end-of-season friendly match against Somerset at Taunton Vale. It was their second innings defeat of the summer.

It had been agreed the previous evening that Somerset’s Nick Compton would open Yorkshire’s second innings to test out his rehabilitation after back trouble – but the hoped-for Compton rescue act never materialized as Yorkshire began Day 3 on 16-3 facing a first-innings deficit of 295.

Yorkshire were dismissed for 124 at 1.45pm on the third afternoon…so it was back to the hotel to check out early and on to the coach for the long journey home. Compton? He had to retire on 39 as his back problems resurfaced.

The highest stand of the innings came first as Compton and Gurman Randhawa added 38 for the fourth wicket. Craig Overton was introduced to the attack - and had Randhawa caught behind with his first delivery. As in the first innings the Overton twins wrought havoc – they had their hands in six of the second-innings wickets (and 13 in the match).

Captain Wilson, with 26, and Will Rhodes, 10 not out, were the only other players to reach double figures.

There is one big plus from this heavy defeat - and that is in the slim figure of slow left-armer Karl Carver, making his second appearance for the Seconds after not really taking part against Nottinghamshire last week: he looked the part on the field, and even the umpires - Paul Pollard, of Nottinghamshire and Worcestershire, and Roger Tolchard, of Leicestershire and England, picked Karl out as the best Yorkshire bowler on view.

THANKS TO COMPTON: Nick has played for England Lions, really a sort of England Second Eleven these days, and he is one of the possibilities to replace Andrew Strauss in the first team. He readily gave his time yesterday to any Yorkshire player who asked him to talk about the game and demonstrate his technique, and Randhawa was particularly keen to avail himself of the opportunity. This was a very impressive display, both on and off the park, by a very pleasant and talented cricketer.

Day 2: Paceman Oliver Hannon-Dalby toiled through 24 overs for his 3-54 as Somerset piled up 448 in reply to Yorkshire’s first-innings 153. Yorkshire, starting again 295 behind, were reeling on 16-3 by the close - but with Nick Compton at the crease.

It was one of those days from which Yorkshire’s young players can learn an awful lot if they consider what they have seen. The hoped-for early wickets did not materialize - and the third wicket did not fall until Will Jenkins and Jamie Lawrence had taken their overnight partnership to 123. The agony continued as Craig Overton and Lawrence compiled 115 for the fourth – and this after Overton had been dropped behind on three.

No. 6 James Regan took guard, having sat with his pads on for almost four hours, including the previous evening. Now he had to wait a further three minutes as non-striker before he faced his first ball. It was enough: he was promptly bowled by Karl Carver to give the spinner his maiden Second Eleven scalp.

That completed a memorable morning for Karl – who was awarded his Academy cap before play began, a move the Somerset coaches noticed and duly approved. A quick burst of wickets followed, and hopes rose that the hosts might  be dismissed for 300. It was not to be - the last three wickets added 140, including yet another century stand for the last pair.

Yorkshire faced a mammoth deficit. With agreement from all parties the Somerset England Lions player Nick Compton took guard with Alex Lees to try out his back after injury. He stood and watched as three wickets fell on 16, the last two in the final over.

Gurman Randhawa and Carver had wheeled away at less than three an over, and Hannon-Dalby and Iain Wardlaw  kept tight lines for long spells. Somerset were prepared to play a long game in the hot sun, and they duly prospered. Yorkshire face a monumental rescue mission on Day 3.

Day 1: Opener Alex Lees was top-scorer for Yorkshire Seconds in the first innings of their four-day“friendly” match against Somerset at Taunton Vale, but the visitors were all out in their first innings for 153. Somerset had advanced to 133-2 by the close.

The Seconds’ last match of 2012 was marked by a full day`s play: it began cloudy and dull, with some dampness in the ground, so it was a little surprising when Ed Wilson, captain for a second consecutive match, won the toss and preferred to bat.

Lees and Gurman Randhawa began well, with Gurman looking as fluent as he had in the previous game against Nottinghamshire - but he attempted one flowing drive too many and fell to the first of the day’s nine catches behind the wicket.

No.3 Dan Hodgson proceeded to play what is becoming his trademark innings - a slow, composed buildup with no thought of pushing on until he is settled. A Northern Jonathan Trott ? Without the frantic scratching at the crease, I hasten to add.

They had taken the total to a promising 73-1 when Lees became the first victim of the Overton twins - Jamie taking the catch from Craig`s bowling. Incredibly, the twins had their hands in seven of the Yorkshire wickets – on three occasions making it a double-act!

The wheels started to come off Yorkshire’s innings when Lees went - the remaining nine wickets going  for 80 runs, and they were all out for 153 by 2.45pm. It was not a day for batsmen – certainly not before tea - and the close catchers had enjoyed themselves.

Tea was not ready: the umpires ruled that the Somerset innings would begin after a 10-minute break, so we had four overs before the players trooped off again. That left 41 overs to be bowled before the close – a long evening for Yorkshire.

Oliver Hannon-Dalby and Iain Wardlaw proceeded to bowl their tightest spell of the season in tandem - and each found the edge to give Lees two sharp catches at first slip. 27-2, but that was the end of Yorkshire`s success for the day as Will Jenkins, 67 not out, and Josh Lawrence, 39 not out, embarked on an unbroken stand of 106 for the third wicket.

We regret that weak internet connections from Taunton Vale have prevented our usual ball-by-ball scorecard transmission throughout the match. The scorecard is now updated, and is available in the usual way.

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HOWARD CLAYTON

We hope you have enjoyed your season following Yorkshire Second Eleven on this website. It has been the first season as website correspondent for debutant scorer HOWARD CLAYTON - but hardly a baptism of fire! More the dripping water torture during long hours of play lost.

Howard's pages of 2012 scorecards, averages, updated Second Eleven Records and his own appreciation of the season will appear in the 115th of the Yorkshire Yearbook to be published next spring.