Somerset Starts Strong, Leverock Impresses
[Written by Stephen Wright]
Somerset made a commanding start to the defence of their Cup Match trophy against St George’s on the first day of the annual classic at Somerset Cricket Club today [August 1].
Somerset, batting first, scored 345 for nine declared, with St George’s ending the day on 80 for the loss of five wickets.
The home side, who won the toss, survived an early scare when opening batter and captain Terryn Fray was dropped on one by Oronde Bascome off the slow left-arm bowling of Delray Rawlins.
Fray and opening partner Kamau Leverock swiftly reached a first-wicket partnership of 50 before the captain was put down again, this time off the bowling of seam bowler Zeko Burgess, a difficult chance for Nzari Paynter.
Leverock was at his formidable best, bludgeoning his way to a half-century, with his partner Fray playing the perfect foil as Somerset seized control during the first session.
The powerful left-hander continued to punish the St George’s bowlers, racing to his century off just 76 balls, including 14 fours and five sixes.
Leverock and Fray became the highest-scoring first-wicket partnership in Cup Match history when they reached 155, surpassing the previous best by Fray and Chris Douglas.
Fray, who batted patiently, was finally dismissed for 51 after being bowled by Burgess with the score 169.
Somerset lost their second wicket when Tre Manders was caught by Jonté Smith off the left-arm seam bowling of Kevon Fubler for seven.
Another wicket fell when middle-order batter Alje Richardson was bowled by Burgess for 11.
Leverock’s mammoth innings came to an end after being caught by teenage reserve Luke Horan off the bowling of spinner Allan Douglas Jr for 153.
St George’s were making inroads into the Somerset batting line-up when Malachi Jones was caught by Zeko Burgess off the bowling of Rawlins for 18.
Dion Stovell then fell for 37 after being bowled by Burgess with Somerset 309 for six.
St George’s claimed two more wickets when Bremar was superbly caught by Horan off Burgess for 27 and Jermal Proctor run out by wicketkeeper Marcus Scotland for 15.
When Derrick Brangman was bowled by Rawlins for two, Somerset decided to declare on 345 for nine.
In reply, St George’s opening batter Oronde Bascome was bowled by Leverock for five, bringing Scotland to the crease for his Cup Match debut.
Scotland was dropped by Brangman off the bowling of Stovell, with St George’s on 49 for one. Nzari Paynter was the next wicket to fall when he bowled for 35 by Stovell with St George’s 63 for two.
Stovell claimed his second wicket when he bowled Smith for nought before fellow spinner Dominic Sabir dismissed St George’s dangerman Rawlins for one, caught at short mid-wicket. St George’s were 65 for four.
St George’s lost their fifth wicket when captain Onais Bascome was caught off the bowling of Stovell for his third wicket.
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