20/08Result

44th Match, County Championship Division One at Taunton, Aug 20-23 2026

SomersetSomersetSOM
469 & 103/2 (19.2 ov)
EssexEssexESS
158 & 412 (f/o)

Somerset won by 8 wkts

Somerset 1st Innings
BATSMEN
R
B
M
4s
6s
SR
JF Thomas
b Snater
110
162
214
15
1
67.9
TA Lammonby
b Cook
20
21
22
4
0
95.23
LP Goldsworthy
c †Pepper b Porter
16
31
51
3
0
51.61
HM Nicholls
b Cook
96
191
238
13
0
50.26
TB Abell
b Snater
65
124
153
10
0
52.41
JEK Rew †
not out
74
127
201
10
0
58.26
JT Ball
b Cook
3
14
19
0
0
21.42
AM Vaughan
b Porter
0
3
4
0
0
0
L Gregory (c)
lbw b Snater
11
26
38
1
0
42.3
MJ Leach
c Porter b Cook
5
21
23
1
0
23.8
M Pretorius
lbw b Critchley
48
48
59
7
0
100
Extras
21 (b 4, lb 15, nb 2)
TOTAL
469 all out (127.5 Overs, RR: 3.66)
Fall of wickets: 1-34 (Tom Lammonby, 5.4 ov), 2-94 (Lewis Goldsworthy, 17.4 ov), 3-213 (Josh Thomas, 55.3 ov), 4-312 (Henry Nicholls, 81.4 ov), 5-348 (Tom Abell, 94.3 ov), 6-352 (Jake Ball, 98.6 ov), 7-353 (Archie Vaughan, 99.5 ov), 8-382 (Lewis Gregory, 108.1 ov), 9-397 (Jack Leach, 113.3 ov), 10-469 (Migael Pretorius, 127.5 ov)
Bowling O M R W Econ WD NB
JA Porter 27 8 70 2 2.59 0 1
SJ Cook 29 5 92 4 3.17 0 0
S Snater 26 5 96 3 3.69 0 0
SR Harmer 31 4 124 0 4 0 0
NRM Thain 2 0 12 0 6 0 0
MJJ Critchley 11.5 1 54 1 4.56 0 0
T Westley 1 0 2 0 2 0 0

Bowling	O	M	R	W	Econ	NB
JA Porter	27	8	70	2	2.59	1
SJ Cook	29	5	92	4	3.17	0
S Snater	26	5	96	3	3.69	0
SR Harmer	31	4	124	0	4	0
NRM Thain	2	0	12	0	6	0
MJJ Critchley	11.5	1	54	1	4.56	0
T Westley	1	0	2	0	2	0

Essex 1st Innings
BATSMEN
R
B
M
4s
6s
SR
D Elgar
lbw b Gregory
0
2
1
0
0
0
PI Walter
c Leach b Ball
48
70
106
8
0
68.57
T Westley (c)
c †Rew b Gregory
0
2
2
0
0
0
CWJ Allison
b Gregory
1
6
8
0
0
16.66
MJJ Critchley
lbw b Vaughan
50
88
130
6
1
56.81
NRM Thain
lbw b Leach
10
17
19
2
0
58.82
MS Pepper †
c Nicholls b Vaughan
35
43
59
5
0
81.39
SR Harmer
c Goldsworthy b Leach
4
6
5
1
0
66.66
S Snater
c †Rew b Leach
0
6
7
0
0
0
SJ Cook
b Leach
0
5
8
0
0
0
JA Porter
not out
0
14
20
0
0
0
Extras
10 (b 2, lb 1, nb 6, w 1)
TOTAL
158 all out (42.4 Overs, RR: 3.7)
Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Dean Elgar, 0.2 ov), 2-0 (Tom Westley, 0.4 ov), 3-2 (Charlie Allison, 2.2 ov), 4-104 (Paul Walter, 22.3 ov), 5-117 (Noah Thain, 27.4 ov), 6-129 (Matt Critchley, 32.4 ov), 7-134 (Simon Harmer, 33.6 ov), 8-138 (Shane Snater, 35.5 ov), 9-146 (Sam Cook, 37.3 ov), 10-158 (Michael Pepper, 42.4 ov)
Bowling O M R W Econ WD NB
L Gregory 6 1 29 3 4.83 0 0
JT Ball 10 0 55 1 5.5 0 1
M Pretorius 8 3 21 0 2.62 1 2
MJ Leach 13 2 37 4 2.84 0 0
AM Vaughan 5.4 1 13 2 2.29 0 0

Bowling	O	M	R	W	Econ	WD	NB
L Gregory	6	1	29	3	4.83	0	0
JT Ball	10	0	55	1	5.5	0	1
M Pretorius	8	3	21	0	2.62	1	2
MJ Leach	13	2	37	4	2.84	0	0
AM Vaughan	5.4	1	13	2	2.29	0	0

Essex 2nd Innings
BATSMEN
R
B
M
4s
6s
SR
PI Walter
b Ball
43
82
92
4
1
52.43
D Elgar
c †Rew b Pretorius
56
125
157
9
0
44.8
T Westley (c)
c Abell b Leach
22
51
69
4
0
43.13
CWJ Allison
c †Rew b Leach
114
254
311
13
2
44.88
MJJ Critchley
c Abell b Leach
94
236
282
11
0
39.83
NRM Thain
c Abell b Leach
11
54
63
1
0
20.37
MS Pepper †
c Abell b Leach
4
3
7
1
0
133.33
SR Harmer
b Vaughan
24
68
73
2
0
35.29
S Snater
b Vaughan
14
30
36
2
0
46.66
SJ Cook
not out
9
32
41
0
0
28.12
JA Porter
lbw b Vaughan
7
34
34
1
0
20.58
Extras
14 (b 10, nb 4)
TOTAL
412 all out (f/o) (161.1 Overs, RR: 2.55)
Fall of wickets: 1-82 (Paul Walter, 26.4 ov), 2-127 (Dean Elgar, 42.3 ov), 3-127 (Tom Westley, 43.2 ov), 4-339 (Matt Critchley, 121.4 ov), 5-346 (Charlie Allison, 127.5 ov), 6-350 (Michael Pepper, 129.2 ov), 7-367 (Noah Thain, 139.2 ov), 8-395 (Shane Snater, 149.4 ov), 9-396 (Simon Harmer, 151.1 ov), 10-412 (Jamie Porter, 161.1 ov)
Bowling O M R W Econ WD NB
M Pretorius 26 3 72 1 2.76 0 2
JT Ball 24.4 7 60 1 2.43 0 0
AM Vaughan 40.1 6 123 3 3.06 0 0
MJ Leach 55.2 22 81 5 1.46 0 0
JF Thomas 2 0 10 0 5 0 0
TA Lammonby 8 2 33 0 4.12 0 0
LP Goldsworthy 3 1 5 0 1.66 0 0
L Gregory 2 0 18 0 9 0 0

Bowling	O	M	R	W	Econ	NB
M Pretorius	26	3	72	1	2.76	2
JT Ball	24.4	7	60	1	2.43	0
AM Vaughan	40.1	6	123	3	3.06	0
MJ Leach	55.2	22	81	5	1.46	0
JF Thomas	2	0	10	0	5	0
TA Lammonby	8	2	33	0	4.12	0
LP Goldsworthy	3	1	5	0	1.66	0
L Gregory	2	0	18	0	9	0

Somerset 2nd Innings
BATSMEN
R
B
M
4s
6s
SR
JF Thomas
c Critchley b Harmer
31
29
30
3
0
106.89
TA Lammonby
not out
39
54
64
5
0
72.22
LP Goldsworthy
c Snater b Harmer
6
8
7
1
0
75
HM Nicholls
not out
18
25
26
2
0
72
Extras
9 (b 4, w 5)
TOTAL
103/2 (19.2 Overs, RR: 5.32)
Did not bat: TB Abell, JEK Rew †, JT Ball, AM Vaughan, L Gregory (c), MJ Leach, M Pretorius
Fall of wickets: 1-59 (Josh Thomas, 9.1 ov), 2-65 (Lewis Goldsworthy, 11.1 ov)
Bowling O M R W Econ WD NB
SJ Cook 2 0 17 0 8.5 0 0
SR Harmer 9.2 0 39 2 4.17 1 0
MJJ Critchley 6 0 33 0 5.5 0 0
T Westley 2 0 10 0 5 0 0

Bowling	O	R	W	Econ	WD
SJ Cook	2	17	0	8.5	0
SR Harmer	9.2	39	2	4.17	1
MJJ Critchley	6	33	0	5.5	0
T Westley	2	10	0	5	0

Match Details

The Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton

Series

County Championship Division One 2026

Toss

Essex , elected to field first

Season

2026

Match days

20,21,22,23 August 2026 (4-day match)

Umpires

Ian Blackwell

Martin Saggers

Match Referee

Mike Smith

Points

Somerset 22, Essex 2

Close of Play

Thu, 20 Aug - day 1 - Somerset 1st innings 348/5 (JEK Rew 21*, JT Ball 0*, 96 ov)
Fri, 21 Aug - day 2 - Essex 2nd innings 59/0 (PI Walter 29*, D Elgar 30*, 19 ov)
Sat, 22 Aug - day 3 - Essex 2nd innings 314/3 (CWJ Allison 105*, MJJ Critchley 76*, 115 ov)
Sun, 23 Aug - day 4 - Somerset 2nd innings 103/2 (19.2 ov) - end of match

Match Notes

Day 4
- Somerset 2nd innings
- Batting and bowling points: Somerset 6, Essex 2

Match Coverage

All Match News

Leach leads the way as Somerset seal dominant win
Spinner takes five-for as Essex resistance is worn away on final day
Charlie Allison hundred leads Essex fightback
Visitors wipe out deficit after following on as Somerset can only manage three wickets in day
Essex battle in follow-on as Leach, Gregory tighten Somerset's grip
Visitors face uphill battle as spinners get a grip of contest at Taunton
Thomas, Nicholls put title-chasing Somerset in charge
New overseas signing makes 96 on debut after young opener's hundred

Somerset INNINGS		R	B
JF Thomas	caught	31	29
TA Lammonby	not out	39	54
LP Goldsworthy	caught	6	8
HM Nicholls	not out	18	25
JEK Rew
TB Abell
AM Vaughan
L Gregory
M Pretorius
MJ Leach
JT Ball
EXTRAS	(b 4, w 5)
TOTAL	103 (2 wkts; 19.2 ovs)

Essex BOWLING	O	R	W	Econ
SJ Cook	2.0	17	0	8.5
SR Harmer	9.2	39	2	4.17	(1w)
MJJ Critchley	6.0	33	0	5.5
T Westley	2.0	10	0	5

Somerset 4th innings Partnerships

Wkt	Runs	Players
1st	59	TA Lammonby	JF Thomas
2nd	6	TA Lammonby	LP Goldsworthy
3rd	38	HM Nicholls	TA Lammonby

County Championship Division One

Team	M	W	L	D	PT
NOT	9	4	1	4	135
SOM	9	4	2	3	133
WAR	9	3	1	5	130
GLA	9	3	3	3	110
SUS	9	4	3	2	108
YOR	9	3	3	3	108
ESS	9	4	4	1	107
SUR	9	1	3	5	94
LEI	9	2	5	2	91
HAM	9	2	5	2	75

Team	M	W	L	D	PT
NOT	9	4	1	4	135
SOM	9	4	2	3	133
WAR	9	3	1	5	130
GLA	9	3	3	3	110
SUS	9	4	3	2	108
YOR	9	3	3	3	108
ESS	9	4	4	1	107
SUR	9	1	3	5	94
LEI	9	2	5	2	91
HAM	9	2	5	2	75

Team	M	W	L	D	PT
NOT	9	4	1	4	135
SOM	9	4	2	3	133
WAR	9	3	1	5	130
GLA	9	3	3	3	110
SUS	9	4	3	2	108
YOR	9	3	3	3	108
ESS	9	4	4	1	107
SUR	9	1	3	5	94
LEI	9	2	5	2	91
HAM	9	2	5	2	75

Somerset 1st Innings

Essex 1st Innings

Essex 2nd Innings

Somerset 2nd Innings

The Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton

Series

Toss

Season

Match days

Umpires

Match Referee

Points

Leach leads the way as Somerset seal dominant win

Charlie Allison hundred leads Essex fightback

Essex battle in follow-on as Leach, Gregory tighten Somerset's grip

Thomas, Nicholls put title-chasing Somerset in charge

Team	M	W	L	D	PT
NOT	9	4	1	4	135
SOM	9	4	2	3	133
WAR	9	3	1	5	130
GLA	9	3	3	3	110
SUS	9	4	3	2	108
YOR	9	3	3	3	108
ESS	9	4	4	1	107
SUR	9	1	3	5	94
LEI	9	2	5	2	91
HAM	9	2	5	2	75