Somerset faced a challenging opening day against Warwickshire in their LV=Insurance County Championship game at Edgbaston. After the first session was washed out due to rain, Somerset chose to bat but struggled against a disciplined Warwickshire seam attack, led by Chris Rushworth with figures of 4 for 33.
Somerset found themselves in a dire situation at 37 for 6, with their top order failing to make an impact against the Warwickshire bowlers. Tom Lammonby was dismissed after offering no shot to a straight delivery from Rushworth, while Lewis Goldsworthy was caught at first slip by Rob Yates off Rushworth’s bowling. Sean Dickson fell lbw to Olly Hannon-Dalby.
The change bowlers also made an immediate impact. Andy Umeed edged Ed Barnard’s delivery to Will Rhodes at second slip, and James Rew was caught off a top-edged pull shot, offering a return catch to Craig Miles. Tom Banton then left a ball from Barnard, only to see it knock out his off-stump.
With the score at 37 for 6, Somerset was in danger of recording a new Championship low against Warwickshire. However, captain Tom Abell and Lewis Gregory managed to add 56 runs for the seventh wicket before both perished with the total still below 100. Abell was dismissed after edging to wicketkeeper Michael Burgess, and Gregory was caught at extra cover off Rushworth’s bowling.
The lower order provided a much-needed recovery for Somerset. Neil Wagner and Josh Davey combined to add an unbroken 84 runs for the ninth wicket, frustrating Warwickshire’s bowlers. Wagner reached his fifty in a fluent 47-ball knock, with four boundaries through the covers off Will Rhodes.
By the end of the day, Somerset had posted a total of 221 for 8, thanks to the ninth-wicket partnership between Wagner and Davey. The two batsmen remained unbeaten and were ready to push on in the morning, hoping to challenge Somerset’s record ninth-wicket stand against Warwickshire, which stands at 180 runs, achieved by Steven Davies and Jamie Overton at Edgbaston in 2020.