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Somerset vs Essex, Bob Willis Trophy final 2020: live updates and score on day five from Lord's

Alan Tyers
·15-min read
Lewis Gregory(L) and Tom Abell of Somerset(R) celebrate the wicket of Sir Alastair Cook - Getty
Lewis Gregory(L) and Tom Abell of Somerset(R) celebrate the wicket of Sir Alastair Cook - Getty

12:53 PM

OVER 29: ESS 85/3 (Lawrence 26* Walter 5*)

Here's that crackerjack cricketer Jack Brooks, trademark headband in place. Can he make something happen with his energetic medium pacers? Gets a bit of swing here, but watchfully played by Lawrence.

England's Test spinner, Jack Leach, yet again this summer is not exactly finding his workload unbearable. 

12:49 PM

OVER 28: ESS 85/3 (Lawrence 26* Walter 5*)

Walter getting a searching exam from Gregory here. Three off the over.

12:48 PM

OVER 27: ESS 82/3 (Lawrence 25* Walter 3*)

Overton gets a ball to rear alarmingly past Lawrence's defences, that seemed to come from nowhere on what has been a benign deck.

12:47 PM

OVER 26: ESS 80/3 (Lawrence 24* Walter 2*)

Gregory bowls, there's a couple off the over to Walter. The groundstaff, I am sorry to say, are lurking...

12:34 PM

OVER 25: ESS 78/3 (Lawrence 24* Walter 0*)

Goes without saying that the loss of the in-form modern great AN Cook is huge in the context of the game. But Essex have other batsmen, and Somerset still have a long way to go.

12:33 PM

OVER 24: ESS 73/3 (Lawrence 24* Walter 0*)

Huge huge shout for LBW! Coming in from around the wicket to the left-hander, that looks a very good lbw shout, in fact I cannot see how he hasn't given that unless he thought Walter hit it. Walter stands there as if stunned and then eventually scampers off for a leg bye. 

Lawrence now drives down the ground for a lovely four - before inside edging just past his stumps. 

All happening in this over! 

12:29 PM

That brings

Paul Walter, on a king pair, comes to the crease...

12:29 PM

WICKET! COOK IS OUT! Cook c Davies b Gregory 31

Gregory has got the great man caught behind for 31. He'd caused him a problem the ball before, straightening one from around the wicket. And now he has got him poking at the ball. Cook stands his ground, the umpire gives him out but Cook looks very much like he thinks he did not hit that. An un-Cook-like response you have to say. But off he has to go! FOW 68/3

 

12:27 PM

OVER 23: ESS 68/2 (Cook 31* Lawrence 19*)

Overton to Lawrence. Inside edge into the pads.

12:24 PM

OVER 22: ESS 67/2 (Cook 30* Lawrence 19*)

Just a leg bye in this over from Gregory.

12:19 PM

OVER 21: ESS 66/2 (Cook 30* Lawrence 19*)

Somerset naturally going with their two most likely men, Craig Overton to bowl. Cook dabs behind point for the first run of the afternoon session, and now a handsome shot from Cook through the covers for four runs.

12:15 PM

OVER 20: ESS 61/2 (Cook 29* Lawrence 15*)

Lawrence tucks a couple of balls away off his pads but finds Brooks at mid on both times. It's a maiden over from the Pavillion End.

12:10 PM

The players are out on the pitch

Dan Lawrence faces up to Lewis Gregory. It's lunchtime but there are pronounced shadows from all those floodlights. Gloom is the word, but brightness and excitement about the match situation.

Sir Alastair Cook bats at Lord's on the final day - Getty

 

11:37 AM

Lunch: Essex 61/2 (Cook 29* Lawrence 15*)

A really enjoyable and good quality morning of cricket. It's cold, it is gloomy and the floodlights are on: no first class game has started this late in the year at Lord's ever. But from the unusual we turn to the familiar, Alastair Cook is batting, and he has a chance here to win the game for Essex.

They have been set 237 to win the Bob Willis Trophy after Somerset, mostly through Craig Overton, added 41 in a half an hour's batting this morning. They've since taken two Essex wickets but while Sir Alastair is in, the men from the East will fancy their chances of winning the trophy. But the conditions on the other hand are helpful for the seamers and the men from the South West will likewise feel that they are right in the game.

There are 61 overs left in the day, and if it were to finish as a draw it is Essex who will claim the Bob Willis Trophy on account of having got a lead in the first innings. Bit arbitrary but you have to do something, don't you? Join me after lunch and we will see how it all develops.

All eyes will be on Sir Alastair Cook as Essex chase 237 to win - Getty

11:33 AM

OVER 19: ESS 61/2 (Cook 29* Lawrence 15*)

Cook sees that out without alarm and that is lunch.

11:30 AM

Josh Davey will bowl the last over before lunch.

Sir Alastair Cook is on strike.

11:29 AM

OVER 18: ESS 61/2 (Cook 29* Lawrence 15*)

Gregory with his accurate right arm seam, an attractive bowler, it seems to kiss off the surface, he's not a great pace but it's a dangerous proposition in the conditions. Lawrence guides the ball away for four through third man.

11:25 AM

OVER 17: ESS 55/2 (Cook 29* Lawrence 11*)

Lawrence outside edges Davey. Lammonby makes great ground to haul that back and whistles in an elegant one bounce throw, left-handed, to the top of the stumps. Keeps that to three.

Cook adds a couple later in the over. Score moves on to 55, there are six minutes until lunch.

11:21 AM

OVER 16: ESS 52/2 (Cook 27* Lawrence 8*)

Lawrence again calls for a quick single, Cook home again but it's surely not ideal on a freezing cold morning for a veteran? Gregory the bowler, keeping it tight.

11:18 AM

OVER 15: ESS 51/2 (Cook 27* Lawrence 7*)

Davey bowling straight at the stumps, Lawrence defending them. 

11:09 AM

OVER 14: ESS 50/2 (Cook 27* Lawrence 6*)

Lawrence takes a very quick single that leaves Sir Alastair in a real pickle. He would have been out there with the direct hit. Cook comes down the pitch to have a word with his junior partner. 

Cook's in trouble a couple of times in this over, good bowling from Gregory around the wicket. Decent LBW shout and beaten outside off. Cook puts that behind him with a tuck off the pads. Four for that, another four in a similar region not long later.

11:06 AM

OVER 13: ESS 37/2 (Cook 19* Lawrence 5*)

Josh Davey to Sir Alastair Cook. Good tight line. One slightly wider one, Cook drives attractively but cover comes to the rescue. A maiden from Davey, who did his part with the bat earlier.

11:02 AM

OVER 12: ESS 37/2 (Cook 19* Lawrence 5*)

Lawrence watchful in this over from Gregory. It's very chilly there, overcast, lights are on. Testing conditions to bat in.

11:00 AM

OVER 11: ESS 37/2 (Cook 19* Lawrence 5*)

This is a testing period for the young man old man Essex combo. Overton and Gregory asking plenty of questions, ball is doing enough to keep them under pressure.

10:52 AM

OVER 9: ESS 30/2 (Cook 13* Lawrence 4*)

Dan Lawrence, widely tipped for a long England career, joins a man who played one or two matches himself for the national side. Lawrence opens his account with an edge through the third slip.

10:49 AM

WICKET! Westley lbw Overton 0

Westley tries to work that to leg and misses the ball, he is hit on the pad and given. Looked a bit high to me but Craig Overton is convinced and the umpire comes along for the ride. FOW 26/2

10:48 AM

OVER 8: ESS 25/1 (Cook 12* Westley 0*)

Westley blocks and leaves the first four.

10:46 AM

That wicket

off the second ball of Gregory's spell, brings the skipper Tom Westley to the crease.

10:42 AM

WICKET! Browne c Abell b Gregory 13

The bowling change does the trick - Browne is caught at third slip! A full ball that swung away, a prod, a smart catch. FOW 25/1

10:40 AM

OVER 7: ESS 24/0 (Browne 13* Cook 11*) target 237

A maiden from Overton to Browne.

10:36 AM

OVER 6: ESS 24/0 (Browne 13* Cook 11*) target 237

Cook strokes the ball through the covers, lovely shot. Four runs. Cook batting very attractively in this match, as good as ever. Steve Finn says that he is operating at double ton at the MCG lvels.

10:31 AM

OVER 5: ESS 20/0 (Browne 13* Cook 7*) target 237

Overton has removed a slip, he's put a guy at midwicket in a catching position. Going to try a slightly different line. Essex have put Somerset onto the back foot with a good start here.

10:27 AM

OVER 4: ESS 19/0 (Browne 13* Cook 6*) target 237

Davey from the Pavillion End to Cook. He's angling it in from around the wicket, looking for that one that just hold the line but Cook using his experience to play the channel and avoid the edge.

10:23 AM

OVER 3: ESS 16/0 (Browne 12* Cook 4*) target 237

Browne clips Overton for an attractive four off the pads, too full and too straight from CO. And now Browne follows that up with a lovely straight drive - four boundaries for Essex. Browne certainly timing it nicely.

10:19 AM

OVER 2: ESS 8/0 (Browne 4* Cook 4*) target 237

Cook off the mark in the most pleasing way, a lovely on drive for four. Davey slides one past the outside edge and for a split second he thinks he has got Cook. But there is no appeal from the keeper or slips.

10:14 AM

OVER 1: ESS 4/0 (Browne 4* Cook 0*) target 237

Wild slash from Nick Browne first ball! He gets four wide of third slip and is lucky not to edge that to the men with the chilly hands there. Beaten fair and square outside off next ball.

Overton running in hard there, he's the man Somerset look too, and I dare say he'll be pumped after his efforts with the bat.

10:12 AM

Here comes Craig Overton

Browne will take strike. Cook at the other end. 

10:02 AM

Somerset declare on 268/7

That was a handy cameo from Overton this morning. It has allowed Somerset to set Essex 237 to win in 82 overs.

10:02 AM

OVER 76: SOM 272/7 (C Overton 45* Davey 19*)

Harmer. Overton really playing a good hand here, he's slotted another one down the long off, there's four for that - and Somerset are declaring.

10:00 AM

OVER 75: SOM 264/7 (C Overton 39* Davey 14*)

Overton has got hold of that one though! No stopping that six into the midwicket stands. Overton going through the gears. 14 off the over.

09:57 AM

OVER 74: SOM 251/7 (C Overton 30* Davey 12*)

Overton wellies one off Harmer and it looks six for all money, but big Paul Walter gets up for a super bit of fielding, managing to claw it back when it was all but over the rope.

09:54 AM

OVER 73: SOM 246/7 (C Overton 26* Davey 11*)

Porter likes Davey for the LBW here with one that comes back in but umpire is not up for it.

09:53 AM

OVER 72: SOM 241/7 (C Overton 23* Davey 10*)

Another four are added to the score off Harmer. He hits Overton on the pads and appeals, but is friendless in his claims and looks rather disgruntled. Perhaps the fellows are too cold to get involved.

09:46 AM

OVER 71: SOM 237/7 (C Overton 21* Davey 8*)

Just a single off this Porter over. Somerset not as urgent as one might have expected. There would have been a case for whacking everything and getting into their bowling, a draw being no good to them.

09:40 AM

OVER 70: SOM 236/7 (C Overton 21* Davey 7)

Davey not going to let Essex's dangerous off-spinner Harmer settle, he reverse sweeps him for four first ball. A single off the pads takes the lead past 200.

09:37 AM

OVER 69: SOM 231/7 (C Overton 21* Davey 2)

Overton gets a meaty thwack away down the ground for a boundary. Those four runs the only score off the Porter over.

09:33 AM

OVER 68: SOM 227/7 (C Overton 17* Davey 2)

Cook completes that over to Davey and there is no run.

Next over will be Jamie Porter from the Pavillion End.

09:31 AM

Here come Craig Overton and Josh Davey

Mike Atherton thinks Somerst will bat for just five overs or so.

 

Essex and the Somerset bats take to the field during Day 5 of the Bob Willis Trophy  - Alex Davidson/Getty Images)

 

09:27 AM

Ovenight: Somerset 227/7 (C Overton 17* Davey 2) lead by 191

off 67.5 overs. Bad light had stopped play. Sam Cook will finish that over for Essex, the County Champions. Somerset, frequent bridesmaids, are the side who need to force the issue. I suppose they will look to add runs quickly, give themselves as many overs as possible. But if they were all out for not much, that would open the door for Essex. Very cold, overcast: a result looks very possible either way.

09:12 AM

Morning!

An exciting finish in prospect here. Somerset lead by 191 with three wickets in hand. Essex, however, took the lead on first innings so if it does finish as a draw, it is the men from the East who will lift the Bob Willis Trophy. It is grey and a bit chilly in London but it is not raining, and the forecast is okay. I would imagine that bad light will be a factor later.

Meanwhile...

Somerset's Tom Lammonby found himself compared to England opener Rory Burns after continuing his rapid rise with a century in the Bob Willis Trophy final against an Essex attack he rates as the best he has faced.

The 20-year-old left-hander made a glowing 116 on day four of the season decider at Lord's, which is just his sixth first-class appearance, making it three games in a row that the Exeter-born batsman has reached three figures.

The previous two have come against Worcestershire and Gloucestershire but when the quality of the bowlers ticked up a notch - Jamie Porter and Simon Harmer, in particular, are two of the most prolific wicket-takers on the circuit - Lammonby stepped up with them.

He hit 17 fours in his 151-ball innings, allowing his side to boast a 191-run lead going into the final day, though Essex's first-innings advantage means they will take the silverware in the event of a draw.

"That has to be the best attack I've personally faced - the names you can reel off are all quality bowlers," he said.

"It was nice to score a few runs and contribute against the very best opponents out there.

"Someone like Jamie Porter has been a class act over the last couple of years so it was really nice to be tested by him. There was a competitive spirit out there but he let his bowling do the real talking."

Porter has been face-to-face with the best the county game can offer and frequently come out on top during recent seasons, claiming another four wickets as Essex rebounded well from Lammonby's hundred.

And he had some high praise for his young opponent.

"I was really impressed. He played some great shots off my bowling, good shots off good ball, and only top players do that," he said.

"Bad players don't hit good balls out the middle of the bat for four. I said to Dan Lawrence that he looked like Rory Burns. He has a different set-up and he's more pleasing on the eye than Rory, who I'm sure won't mind me saying that. I'm excited to see what the future holds for him."

Responding to the hat tip, Lammonby said: "I haven't heard that one before, but it's a great comparison. Rory has been so doing so well over for Surrey and England."

Lammonby is related at a distance to former Australian international and current Holland coach Ryan Campbell and would qualify for the Baggy Greens through his father.

Any talk of international honours is surely some way in the future but he was quick to dismiss any thoughts of representing Australia.

"No, definitely not!" he said with a laugh.

"Ryan is my Dad's cousin, so obviously there's a bit of blood in there. I was fortunate enough to meet him out in Western Australia over the winter just gone. He's a great guy and someone I enjoyed spending time with out there."