Somerset in control despite Davies ton

Somerset are in firm control after day two of the LVCC Division One match at the Kia Oval, despite a ton from Steve Davies.

Somerset started the morning with 5 wickets in hand, looking to take the game away from Surrey. However, Meaker made the perfect start, when he had Trego caught in the gully. The next man to go was nightwatchman Dockrell, Lewis removing him. Lewis then picked up his second of the over, and 3^rd of the innings, when he had Meschede caught in the slips. After Meaker removed Philander, to make it 3 wickets for 3 runs, Surrey were looking to bowl Somerset out for less than 500.

However, the Overton twins, in particular Jamie, frustrated the Surrey bowlers, putting on a last wicket partnership of 38, before declaring on 512-9. Rudolph and Davies would have wanted to cash in on this pitch, but the South African was yorked by J Overton and went for just 1. Roy came in at 3, and he and Davies batted aggressively, looking at relative ease at the crease. However, Roy failed to capitalize on a good start, when he gave Philander his first wicket for 28.

Davies was joined by de Bruyn, who both needed to find some form in this format of the game. Davies dominated the partnership, ticking along at a run a ball, and brought up his second fifty of the summer. de Bruyn was also playing his part in the partnership, which had gone past 100 in relatively quick time. The pair were edging towards personal milestones, and it was Davies who reached his first, a brilliant century at a good pace. de Bruyn then reached his second half century of the summer just before tea, to take Surrey to the break on 187-2.

However, Surrey had an awful start to the final session of the day. Davies was caught off Dockrell for 104, and was quickly followed by de Bruyn for 52, as both set batsman were removed. The skipper also came and went, as he moved across his stumps and was trapped in front by Philander without scoring. A terrible passage of play, especially after how well we had done in the last session.

After hooking Philander for 6, and putting on 34 with Tom Maynard, Jordan looked to repeat the shot against Peter Trego, but struck the ball straight down the fielders throat at deep backwards square and went for 8. Batty joined Maynard at the crease, with a big job on their hands. As expected, Maynard dominated the partnership, but was playing in a more sedate manner than he did at New Road last week.

However, he was still finding the boundary regularly and brought up an important half century off 84 balls, with 5 fours and a six. He and Batty put on an unbeaten partnership of 59, to take Surrey to the close on 286-6, trailing by 226, with not many alarms. However, Maynard was dropped on the last ball of the day by Suppiah, in what may turn out to be a big moment in the game.

Another difficult day for our guys then, even though we dominated the second session. Davies and de Bruyn played well, but it was disappointing that neither of them could kick on and make a big score, and it was equally disappointing that they both fell within the space of two overs. We will now have to do well to save the game, but with Maynard still there, and with Meaker and Lewis still to come, we have a chance of avoiding the follow on, and somehow avoid defeat.