Dion Stovell shines with bat and ball to put Somerset in control
Somerset Cricket Club (first day of two; St George’s won toss): Somerset, with one first-innings wicket in hand, are 161 runs ahead of St George’s
Dion Stovell unfurled a masterful all-round display that thrust holders Somerset firmly in the driver’s seat on the opening day of Cup Match at Somerset Cricket Club today.
The 36-year-old all-rounder claimed three for 28 with his off spin to ignite a massive slide that saw St George’s lose six wickets for 24 runs before being dismissed for a paltry 113 in just 40 overs.
He also delivered with the willow at the crease, stroking an unbeaten and classy 93 to spearhead a recovery after Somerset suffered a batting collapse of their own to carry the hosts to 274 for nine at stumps for a healthy first-innings lead.
Somerset were reeling at 125 for five before Stovell dropped anchor and batted the champions into a position of strength.
He added a vital and timely 42 with captain Jordan DeSilva (14) to halt a slide that saw five wickets fall for 13 runs in three overs.
Stovell added a further 26 with Derrick Brangman (nine) before reaching his fifty off 83 balls after scampering through for two runs off George O’Brien in the 57th over.
He then dominated a 46-run ninth-wicket stand with wicketkeeper Khiry Furbert (28) that heaped more misery on St George’s.
Stovell and last man Greg Maybury (two) are still there, having added 39 for the tenth wicket, which they will look to build upon with the former just seven runs shy of a maiden Cup Match hundred.
Somerset also got solid contributions from openers Chris Douglas (43) and Terryn Fray (57) in reply to St George’s total.
The pair added 108 for the first wicket before the champions came unstuck as St George’s mounted a fightback in the field to leave the match hanging in the balance before Stovell intervened to turn the tide back in his team’s favour after their opponents declined to take the new ball at the earliest opportunity.
Earlier, the Southampton Rangers stalwart made his presence felt with the ball as he exploited a turning wicket to rip the heart out of the St George’s middle and lower order.
He opened his account when he trapped the recalled Macai Simmons for a duck amid a massive slide as the East Enders paid the price for some undisciplined batting.
He then had Zeko Burgess (three) caught by Alje Richardson at deep mid-wicket and Rodney Trott caught behind by wicketkeeper Furbert to end the innings as St George’s decision to bat first on an excellent track backfired.
Kamau Leverock, who made the initial breakthrough in the third over when he bowled surprise opener Allan Douglas playing across the line to the first ball he faced, claimed three for 17, while left-arm spinner Brangman took two for 13.
Opener Treadwell Gibbons Jr led the St George’s batting with 34, OJ Pitcher added 17, Trott 13 and colt Jonté Smith 12.
Stovell’s brilliant display overshadowed a valiant bowling effort by Smith, who claimed three wickets with his medium-pace to mark his arrival on the big stage in style.
He opened his account when he bowled Somerset captain DeSilva before having Malachi Jones caught for a duck at mid-off by fellow colt Jordan Burgess, and Brangman held by O’Brien at mid-wicket.
Smith has taken three for 16 and off spinner Trott three for 46.
St George’s: First Innings
T Gibbons c Manders b Leverock 34
A Douglas Jr b Leverock 0
OJ Pitcher c Manders b DeSilva 17
J Smith c sub b Leverock 12
*O Bascome run out 0
M Simmons lbw b Stovell 0
R Trott c Furbert b Stovell 13
†S Smith c DeSilva b Brangman 2
Z Burgess c Richardson b Stovell 3
J Burgess c Richardson b Stovell 3
G O’Brien lbw b Brangman 11
J Burgess not out 1
Extras (b 1, lb 18, nb 1) 20
Total (40 overs) 113
Fall of wickets: 1-16, 2-49, 3-72, 4-72, 5-74, 6-74, 7-89, 8-96, 9-107.
Bowling: Leverock 9-3-17-3; Maybury 3-0-16-0; DeSilva 3-0-9-1; Jones 5-1-11-0; Stovell 14-4-28-3; Brangman 6-2-13-2.
Somerset: First Innings
C Douglas c Smith b Trott 43
T Fray c Gibbons b Trott 57
T Manders c Gibbons b Trott 0
A Richardson b O’Brien 0
D Stovell not out 93
K Leverock run out 4
*J DeSilva b Smith 14
M Jones c J Burgess b Smith 0
D Brangman c O’Brien b Smith 9
†K Furbert b Z Burgess 28
G Maybury not out 2
Extras (b 10, lb 7, nb 7) 24
Total (9 wkts, 65 overs) 274
Fall of wickets: 1-108, 2-108, 3-113, 4-117, 5-121, 6-163, 7-163, 8-189, 9-235.
Bowling: Z Burgess 7-0-36-1; O’Brien 17-1-75-1; Bascome 6-1-18-0; Trott 16-1-46-3; J Burgess 3-0-15-0; Douglas 9-0-51-0; Smith 6-1-16-3.
Umpires: M Best and A Knight.
Third umpire: M McCormack.
Fourth umpire: S Caines.
Match referee: R Dill.
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