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Somerset- 301: Byrom 117; S Cook 5-76 & 272-7 dec: Lammonby 116; Porter 4-73
Essex- 337-8: Cook 172; Gregory 6-72 & 179-6: Ten Doeschate 46; Leach 3-38
Lord’s Cricket Ground
Match drawn- Essex win trophy after gaining first-innings lead
Essex have become the inaugural winners of the Bob Willis Trophy.
It was largely thanks to their second-innings defiance of a fearsome Somerset attack, earning the County a third-successive red-ball trophy in as many years.
Although the final result at Lord’s was a draw, it was the new rule for this season that was enforced – the highest first-innings score would be the deciding factor if required. As a result Essex’s first-innings lead of 36 runs proved to be the decisive figure in Tom Westley’s sides favour.
The 2018 and 2019 county champions were set a final target of 237 to win on the final day and although there was an early cause for concern after faltering to 98-4, the game was decided thanks to a dogged two-hour partnership between Ryan ten Doeschate and Adam Wheater, who batted superbly for 27 overs before the Captains shook hands.
Somerset, led by their four-pronged seam attack and assisted by a returning Jack Leach, found their opponents to be the only team in 2020 able to lay any form of control over what they faced. After taking 20 wickets in all their five previous matches in the format this season, only managing 14 wickets under predominantly overcast skies was not ever looking like a winning formula.
Still chasing their first ever red-ball county title, Somerset entered the fifth and final day in North London 191 runs in the lead, three wickets in hand and Craig Overton and Josh Davey at the wicket. Knowing quick runs were required to help set up a situation which could see Somerset having a target to defend, Overton (45 not out) struck lusty blows in the process of negotiating the half an hour, without Essex ever looking threatening enough to break the late-order resistance.
Leaving Essex 81 overs to score 236, Somerset managed to snaffle Nick Browne smartly in the slip cordon for 13 and the captain Westley without scoring to fall to 26-2 inside the first eight overs. They faced their first spell of resistance between Sir Alastair Cook and Dan Lawrence, who managed to defy solidly and securely for 15 overs before the former was adjudged caught behind for 31 off Lewis Gregory, despite his adamance of a deflection off his hip and not the bat.
After Cook had made a glorious 172 in the first innings to put them in position, scoring an aggregate of 203 runs in a final will not be overlooked on later reflection.
It ended a partnership which highlighted the level of depth at which Essex currently possess. England’s leading Test run-scorer alongside the next potential candidate for the national side’s middle-order. Although brief in the second-innings, throughout the last two seasons there has been many examples to highlight how effective the pair compliment each other at the crease.
Given the plaudits Lawrence has received in the last 12 months, and his perceived natural ability, especially against playing the spinning ball, you would be foolish to bet against the 23-year-old finding himself on an England overseas tour in the not-so-distant future.
With Cook’s departure, Paul Walter arrived. Between Lawrence and Walter, a defensively astute period occurred. After Lawrence (35) departed LBW to Jack Leach’s second ball of the innings, Essex held firm with ten Doeschate and Walter forming a partnership more akin to seeing out the overs than chasing the target. Entering the final session of the match Essex required a further 109 runs whereas Somerset were chasing the final six wickets.
It was not long before Somerset had their first breakthrough, Walter (21) falling LBW to Leach, like Lawrence. With Somerset now seemingly in the driving seat because of incredibly tight bowling and Essex’s lack of desire to push the runs target, instead seeing the 81 over mark as their modus operandi to a fourth domestic trophy in 3 three seasons.
Adam Wheater arrived at the crease and along with ten Doeschate survived the remaining overs without any real signs of danger and navigated the attack issue-free. Although ten Doeschate fell in the penultimate over, again to Jack Leach, both sides shook hands four balls later and sent Essex players and staff into jubilation.
It brought a close to a tournament which was played in a manner and with a style which its namesake would have been full of praise for. Willis, who sadly passed in December, always championed giving youth players a chance at the highest level of county cricket. Every county seemingly bought into the concept and 30 players made their first-class bows, youngest of all being 16-year-old James Coles.
There have been several standout performances by these debutants; Tom Lammonby made two vital centuries helping Somerset reach the final, Dan Moriarty took 17 wickets in two appearances for Warwickshire and Callum Taylor became the youngest Glamorgan player to score a hundred on debut.
As the curtain fell down on the season with Tom Westley receiving the trophy from the late great’s widow Lauren Clark, it is poignant to remember words spoken by Willis himself: “I just love County Cricket; it doesn’t get the credit it deserves.”
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