Picture by John Heald. George Hill celebrates the early wicket of Archie Vaughan.
Somerset totalled 155-3 from 42 overs during a weather-shortened opening day against Yorkshire at the Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton today.
The White Rose were frustrated by their former batter Tom Kohler-Cadmore, who chanced his arm on a green-tinged pitch with 11 fours and two sixes in an entertaining 76 off 110 balls, sharing a third-wicket 117 with James Rew, who was unbeaten on 54.
Having elected to bowl, George Hill took the new ball and had a hand in all three wickets to fall. He claimed two of them and was the catcher at first slip for the other.
There was no play beyond 2.10pm due to a combination of thunder and lightning and rain.
The players were initially taken off due to the former before heavy rain arrived shortly afterwards.
Picture by Harry Trump/Getty Images. The weather hits the Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton today.
Kohler-Cadmore, who left Yorkshire at the end of 2022 – after the best part of six seasons at Headingley, fell short of recording a third hundred in four Championship appearances this season.
The 31-year-old spent the first half of the season on IPL duty, a large part of the reason he has made less than a handful of Division One appearances.
Ironically, the last time Yorkshire played a Championship match at this venue – a July 2022 draw – Kohler-Cadmore scored 100 batting at three in the first innings.
On another day, Yorkshire could have had more reward as they bowled with the Dukes ball, something which was back in operation following four rounds with the Kookaburra through June and July.
There was obvious signs of seam and spin, though Kohler-Cadmore took on Dom Bess’s off-spin, taking an over of his for 16, including a six over long-off.
Picture by Harry Trump/Getty Images. Tom Kohler-Cadmore celebrates his first-day fifty.
Kohler-Cadmore survived a near miss with a run out on 18 against Jack White’s bowling.
He advanced down the pitch against seam all through his innings, in an attempt to negate the movement, and worked White off his hips. But he could only find James Wharton at short-leg.
Unfortunately, Wharton missed his throw at the striker’s stumps.
Hill claimed the first two wickets to fall. He had Archie Vaughan caught behind as the opener felt for one outside off-stump whilst unsure whether to play forwards or back.
That left Somerset at 20-1 in the sixth over before uprooting left-hander Tom Lammonby’s off-stump with a beauty – 30-2 in the 10th.
Picture by John Heald. Yorkshire’s new overseas signing Mayank Agarwal in the field today.
Kohler-Cadmore reached his fifty before lunch in 55 balls and more measured Rew afterwards in 91.
Kohler-Cadmore then fell caught at first slip by Hill off Jordan Thompson’s seam. The batter looked to go over the top and edged a sharp catch high to Hill’s right. That left Somerset at 147-3 in the 38th over, the weather intervening shortly afterwards.
Third-placed Somerset, with an outside chance of winning the title, have come into this clash with some bowling availability issues and are playing three spin-bowling options in Jack Leach, Lewis Goldsworthy and Vaughan. They have rested seamers Jake Ball and Craig Overton ahead of Vitality Blast Finals Day on Saturday.
Seventh-placed Yorkshire are playing two spinners in Bess and Dan Moriarty. Seamers Ben Coad and Matt Milnes are missing because of injury.
Hill finished with 2-31 from 10 overs and Thompson 1-30 from the same number.
The sun returned to Taunton ahead of a 4.30pm inspection, but the umpires Rob Bailey and Mark Newell abandoned the day just before 4.50pm due to a wet outfield.
