Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Dom Bess congratulates George Hill for his superb 89, after he’s dismissed by Somerset.
Yorkshire all-rounder George Hill hailed “brilliant” Dom Bess for helping the county into a healthy position against Somerset ahead of tomorrow’s fourth day at Headingley and for the season he’s had in general.
Bess and Hill united to share a seventh-wicket 166 to help the White Rose recover their second innings from 54-6 to 220-6 before they were bowled out for 275, setting the visitors a stiff target of 287.
Hill top-scored with 89, while Bess contributed an excellent 77.
Both men have topped 600 runs in this season’s Championship and have shared 76 wickets.
Hill has 686 runs and 44 wickets, Bess 602 and 32.
“Bessy’s been brilliant. He’s so good. With bat, ball and even when I’m bowling, he’s caught a few in the slips.
“He’s a bloke who gets stuck in no matter what. He’s a proper, proper fighter, a proper grafter. He showed it today, obviously wore a few balls on the body. But he got up, looked him in the eye and kept on going.
“We take the Mick out of him in the dressing room, but he takes it all really well, and he’s an unbelievable team-mate to have around. I can’t speak highly enough of him.”
Hill and Bess walked to the crease this morning with Yorkshire 128-6. Somerset were on the front foot, but the pair turned the tables expertly and calmly.
“We scrapped really hard yesterday evening, this morning and into the afternoon to get a pretty decent lead,” said Hill.
“The wicket seems to have got a little bit slower, and it’s not misbehaving as much. But there are some foot-holes developing, and we’ve got Kuldeep and Bessy. It should be an interesting day tomorrow.
“Myself and Bessy just tried to prolong things. The longer they’re out there, the more tired they’re going to get.
“Our thought process was, ‘Wear them down but still be positive’. I thought we ran really well. It must have annoyed them that they’d bowl their best balls and we’d tap and run.”
Somerset then reached close on 73-3 in their pursuit of 287, with Ben Coad striking twice and Matthew Revis once.
Hill said: “I thought we were really good with the ball this evening. We went at around two-an-over, just a bit more, which is key.”
And on the dynamic of Somerset chasing their maiden title, which will surely play it’s part pressure wise, Hill added: “A few of our lads keep reminding them that they’ve not won it before.
“They’re a bit tense and nervous, and 287 is a decent amount of runs.
“But we’re definitely not taking it for granted, it’s not just going to happen.
“They’re obviously a very good team at the top of the table for a reason. We’re going to have to be on our A-game tomorrow.
“They’ve got two very good players in Lammonby and Abell at the crease, Rew at six and then Craig Overton, who has spoiled our fun once this season in the Blast quarter-final.
“We’re hoping to see the back of those guys early in the morning.”
