Somerset bowled Durham out for 145 on the opening day of their County Championship fixture at Taunton, with their bowlers taking advantage of a startling green pitch.
Durham bowled out on green surface
Somerset won the toss at their home venue and opted to bowl. The decision from Lewis Gregory was an obvious one, given that the pitch looked like it would give significant help to the seamers early. As it was, Craig Overton took full advantage to take six wickets in 10 overs, finishing with figures of 6-23 when Durham collapsed to 145 all out.
Emilio Gay was the first wicket to go in the sixth over before Colin Ackerman was bowled first-ball to leave Overton on a hat-trick. Gregory chipped in with the wicket of South African danger-man David Bedingham, before Overton struck again to dismiss Ollie Robinson and Graham Clark off consecutive balls, again finding himself with a hat-trick delivery. He secured his five-for in the 12th over of the day when he caught Alex Lees off his own bowling, leaving Durham 43-6. There was some resistance provided by Ben Raine, who hit 42 off 38 before he was caught behind off Josh Davey.
WICKET!!!! 5 FOR CRAIG OVERTON!!!!! DURHAM FORTY THREE FOR SIX!!!
— Somerset Cricket (@SomersetCCC) July 22, 2025
WPA LIVE STREAM ➡️ https://t.co/1soezRq6as#SOMvDUR#WeAreSomerset pic.twitter.com/rvfmqmGVp9
Match 83, Somerset vs Durham
vs
- Ball by ball Over
Taunton pitch raises eyebrows
The pitch in Taunton had noticeably been left with a heavy covering of grass. There was little to distinguish the sides of the pitch from the turf around it, with the practice pitches also very green.
This isn't the first time this season that the Taunton pitch has drawn controversy for the amount of grass left on. Against Essex earlier in the season, another green surface drew ridicule on social media, with the official Gloucestershire CCC account reply to a picture of the pitch with: "Where's the wicket fellas?".
Where's the wicket fellas? Trying to sort out our @thecricketdraft team. @EssexCricket Go well!
— Gloucestershire Cricket 🏆 (@Gloscricket) May 2, 2025
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