Picture by Harry Trump/Getty Images. Jonny Bairstow celebrates the dismissal of James Rew this morning, caught behind off Dom Bess.
Off-spin duo Joe Root and Dom Bess claimed four wickets apiece as Yorkshire comfortably defended a 260-target to complete a stunning come-from-behind 75-run win over high-flying Somerset at Taunton shortly after tea on day four.
The White Rose county’s first win of the season came at the fourth attempt, and after being bowled out for 162 on day one and then conceding a first-innings lead of 112.
From the start of day two onwards, Yorkshire were superb with bat and ball to set Somerset that 260-target in the final 93 overs of the match.
And a county who had won two of their opening three matches – and had moved top of the in-play Division One table during this round of fixtures – rarely looked like chasing it down on a pitch which became increasingly spin-friendly. They were bowled out for 184 inside 70.
George Hill set the ball rolling with two early wickets – he went on to take three catches at slip as well – before Bess and Root got to work.
They bowled in tandem through the heart of the day and returned combined figures of 8-109. Bess recorded 4-60 from 24.2 overs and Root 4-49 from 16.
Picture by Harry Trump/Getty Images. George Hill claimed the first two wickets of Somerset’s second innings.
After two draws and a defeat, Yorkshire’s first win of 2026 yielded 19 points.
Jhye Richardson started the day by completing a 127-ball 50 in Yorkshire’s 371 all out, the visitors adding six to their overnight total.
Richardson reached his fifty, off 122 balls, in the day’s opening over.
Jack White worked a boundary through mid-wicket off Lewis Gregory before Aussie Richardson edged Overton behind as he looked to steer a single down to third.
White finished unbeaten on nine, and Yorkshire’s last two wickets added 85.
Yorkshire are next in action against Warwickshire at Edgbaston, starting on Friday, when one England batter will replace another. Harry Brook comes in for Root, who is due for a week’s rest.
Picture by Harry Trump/Getty Images. Dom Bess struck twice against his former county today.
Root will return for the next home against Surrey at Headingley, when he and Brook will play alongside each other.
Yorkshire then made their sparkling start with the ball as Somerset were reduced to 21-3 in the 16th over. They later reached lunch at 57-3 after 29.
Hill claimed the first two, both bowled, before Dom Bess removed the much-talked about England hopeful James Rew.
Hill angled one back in and bowled Archie Vaughan to make the initial breakthrough before flicking the bails of Tom Lammonby as the left-hander attempted to leave alone, with Somerset slipping to 16-2 in the 13th over.
Bess’s off-spin then enticed an over-balancing Rew to drive at a full delivery and edge behind for two as Somerset slipped to three down.
Bess struck again when Tom Abell pushed forwards and edged to slip on 41, breaking a 64-run partnership with Josh Thomas. They were the duo who recovered Somerset from 35-3 in the first innings with a 166-stand.
Picture by Harry Trump/Getty Images. Joe Root celebrates dismissing Will Smeed after tea.
When Thomas reached 50 for the second time in the match, off 140 balls – this was more reserved – Somerset were 113-4, needing 147.
By this stage, Jonny Bairstow had employed spin from both ends in Bess and fellow offie Root, who were causing problems, with a host of stifled appeals and oohs and arghs.
With Thomas and England Under 19s captain Thomas Rew together, Somerset would have felt reasonably content with the situation as they chipped away at the target.
When both fell inside three overs, they would have been anything but at 142-6 in the 57th over.
Thomas – for 57 – was first to go when caught at slip by Hill off Bess – ending a 51-run partnership – before Rew, on 30, was caught behind cutting at Root.
And when Adam Lyth took a superb, reflex catch at short-leg to help Root dismiss a whipping Craig Overton, Somerset were 152-7 on the verge of tea.
Picture by Harry Trump/Getty Images. Adam Lyth took a stunning catch at short-leg to help Joe Root dismiss Craig Overton late in the afternoon.
Somerset reached the break at 167-7, with captain Gregory and Smeed together.
But they subsided quickly, thankfully.
In the second over after tea, the 65th, Root had Will Smeed caught at slip trying force off the back foot before Migael Pretorius drilled a return catch the following ball – 173-9.
Just under five overs later, Bess completed a win which won’t be forgotten in a hurry by bowling last man Alfie Ogborne.
Picture by Harry Trump/Getty Images. Jhye Richardson completed his half-century in the early stages of day four.
