Warwickshire batters put Somerset on back foot

Rothesay County Championship, Division One, Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton (day two)

Somerset 208& 23-1: Hermann 16*; Gilchrist 1-12

Warwickshire 330: Hain 68, Webster 64, Mousley 54; Ogborne 3-40, Leach 2-42

Somerset (3 pts) trail Warwickshire (5 pts) by 99 runs

Match scorecard

Warwickshire's middle order batting came good as the visitors took the upper hand on day two of their County Championship match against Somerset at Taunton.

Sam Hain, Beau Webster and Dan Mousley each posted a half-century as the Bears clocked up 330 and established a significant first-innings lead of 122.

An injury replacement for Migael Pretorius, Alfie Ogborne claimed 3-40 to keep Somerset in the hunt, while there were two wickets apiece for Craig Overton, Jake Ball and Jack Leach.

Required to face 11 overs in the early evening gloom, the home side reached the close on 23 for the loss of Josh Thomas, who fell lbw to Nathan Gilchrist.

Somerset trail by 99 and will likely have to bat a further four sessions if they are to save the game.

Looking to forge a meaningful advantage after resuming on 92-2, Warwickshire found their progress hindered by the bad light and rain showers which saw 12 overs lost in the morning session.

But Mousley and Hain extended their burgeoning partnership into three-figure territory, both contributing valuable fifties.

The more fluent of the two, Mousley raised 50 from 99 balls, while his partner faced 31 deliveries more in attaining the same landmark with seven fours.

A lengthy casualty list notwithstanding, Somerset were assisted by the moisture and low cloud cover that enlivened the pitch either side of lunch.

Josh Shaw took full advantage, cramping Mousley for room and presenting Thomas Rew with a regulation catch behind with the score 129-3.

Mousley contributed 54 from 111 balls, accrued seven boundaries and played his part in a crucial stand of 115 in 41 overs to put the visitors on top.

Ogborne summoned sharp lift to remove Hain, the ball coming off the shoulder of the bat and taken above head height by Overton at second slip as Somerset continued to fight back. Hain's fine innings of 68 occupied 157 deliveries with 10 fours.

Webster opened his shoulders to navigate Warwickshire clear of the doldrums, cutting Ball for two fours and greeting Leach with a pulled six behind square.

Ed Barnard, having taken 26 balls to get off the mark, then hoisted Somerset's senior spinner over long-on to signal a notable gear change.

The fifth-wicket pair raised 50 from 82 balls before Leach lured Barnard onto the front foot and Rew demonstrated lightning-quick glovework to effect his first Championship stumping and reduce the visitors to 202-5.

But there was no stopping Webster, who looked increasingly assured as he went to a forthright 50 from 86 balls featuring seven fours and a six. He and Zen Malik advanced the score to 241-5 at the tea interval, putting Warwickshire's account firmly into the black.

Somerset took the new ball immediately after tea and Ball struck a crucial blow, pinning Webster lbw for 64. The Australian had faced 101 deliveries, struck eight fours and a six and helped advance the score to 249-6, a lead of 41.

Report by ECB Reporters' Network, supported by Rothesay.