Cricket

Somerset's Tom Abell led a spirited response on day two of the Vitality County Championship match against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge. Abell's century and partnerships with Tom Lammonby and James Rew helped Somerset reach 293 for 4, trailing Nottinghamshire's 360 by 67 runs.Abell, who relinquished the Somerset captaincy last year, scored his first hundred since then. He shared a 157-run partnership with Lammonby (87) and an unbroken 67-run stand with Rew.Nottinghamshire had extended their first innings by nine overs, picking up a third batting point before Somerset's bowlers dismissed the last two wickets. Migael Pretorious and Kasey Aldridge finished with four and five wickets, respectively.Olly Stone, who played a key role in Nottinghamshire's recovery on day one, fell for 83. Aldridge completed his five-for when Dane Paterson was caught on the extra cover boundary.Somerset's reply began with an early wicket as Andy Umeed departed in the sixth over. Tom Kohler-Cadmore made 38 before falling to a superb catch by Tom Moores.Lammonby and Abell then built a solid partnership, adding 105 runs in the afternoon session. Lammonby reached his half-century from 104 balls, while Abell completed his from 101 balls.Lammonby was eventually dismissed leg before by Paterson, breaking the partnership after 48 overs. Tom Banton was caught behind soon after, but Abell remained unbeaten on 105, hitting 12 fours in his 202-ball innings.The second new ball raised Nottinghamshire's hopes, but Abell turned the pace to his advantage, hitting two boundaries to complete his century.

Somerset's Tom Lammonby played a pivotal role in securing a hard-fought draw against newly promoted Worcestershire at Kidderminster. Resuming on 5 for 1, Somerset faced an uphill battle, but Lammonby's unbeaten 81 and Andrew Umeed's 60 proved crucial.Lammonby, who has enjoyed success against Worcestershire in the past, dug deep to score his third half-century of the season. His 126-ball knock, coupled with Umeed's patient 117-ball 50, helped Somerset recover from a precarious 66 for 3.The duo's 117-run partnership in 39 overs effectively blunted Worcestershire's attack and kept them at bay throughout the afternoon session. Lammonby's resilience and Umeed's support proved invaluable in Somerset's fightback.Worcestershire, who had declared on 451 for 9, had earlier dominated proceedings. Daryl Mitchell's 122, Jake Libby's 97, and Brett D'Oliveira's 82 had put them in a commanding position. However, Somerset's bowlers, led by Jason Holder's 3-72, managed to restrict Worcestershire's lead to 146 runs.Somerset's resilience and application were evident throughout the final day. Despite losing early wickets, they refused to surrender and battled away to earn a draw. Their fourth successive draw and Worcestershire's third in four games since promotion highlight the competitive nature of the County Championship.Worcestershire can take heart from their early season performances, having shown promise in rain-affected games against Warwickshire and Nottinghamshire. They will now have a week's break before facing Kent at Canterbury.Somerset, too, will take encouragement from their ability to fight back and salvage a draw. Their determination and resilience will serve them well as they continue their campaign.

Surrey's Gus Atkinson made a significant impact on his return to competitive cricket, claiming three crucial wickets to help his team fight back against Somerset. After a quiet start to the season, Atkinson's performance showcased his potential as a rising star in English cricket.Atkinson's first spell was slightly underwhelming, but he found his rhythm in his third spell, dismissing Tom Banton and James Rew in quick succession. His third wicket, that of Kasey Aldridge, was a sharp short ball that ballooned to slip. Atkinson's pace and accuracy proved too much for Somerset's middle order, which collapsed after the dismissal of Tom Lammonby for 100.Lammonby's century was a highlight for Somerset, but his dismissal triggered a collapse that saw the visitors lose six wickets for 15 runs. Lewis Gregory's 50 helped Somerset reach 285, but Surrey's openers, Dom Sibley and Ryan Patel, reduced the deficit to 243 runs by the close of play.Atkinson's performance has reignited discussions about his potential for England selection. Rob Key, England's managing director, has identified him as one of the young seamers who could strengthen the Test team. Atkinson's name is also being mentioned for the T20 World Cup, but he may be kept in reserve until the Test summer begins in July.Surrey's fightback was also aided by the legspin of Cameron Steel, who took four wickets, including that of Craig Overton. Steel's nine wickets this season have come at an impressive average of 8.33.