James Rew (l.) and Tom Abell (r.) teamed on a new county record partnership, displaying their elite chemistry and talent together. Rew’s impressive score of 162 not out and Abell’s solid 156 propelled Somerset to a commendable total of 338 for 4 at the close of play. It was a stupendous partnership of 313 between the two batsmen for Somerset. This extraordinary feat broke the record of 310 held by Peter Denning and Ian Botham.
It was a tough opening to the day for Somerset, with Mohammad Abbas making his mark from the outset. He took 3 for 49 in the first hour of play, showcasing his talent and know-how on the court. Abbas produced a tremendous display – completing the career landmark of 800 first-class victims in the process. An incredible 284 of those wickets came while he was toiling in the British county circuit.
James Rew, who recently earned a call-up to the England squad for the one-off Test against Zimbabwe in May, played a pivotal role in stabilizing Somerset’s innings. His half century came in the form of 51 from 75 balls. Though he was still forming his game, this performance showcased his increasing fearlessness and maturing craftsmanship as a batsman. Rew’s knock was topped off by two impressive sixes off the bowling of Calvin Harrison, proving that Rew commented on his aggressive batting display.
Tom Abell, whose concentration and composure at the crease defused a fine bowling attack, made his 156 off 245 deliveries. He constructed his innings through proper shot selection and execution. Abell was on terrific, near-unplayable, form until he succumbed to a top-edged pull shot off Dillon Pennington. This tragic juncture also sadly closed the chapter on his amazing creative collaboration with Rew.
The pair put on a solid 81-over partnership. In all honestly, their resilience and cohesion on the field was one of the most exciting things I’ve seen. They complemented each other very well. This collaborative effort helped put Somerset in an extremely strong position to win this match by the end of Day Three’s play.
As the match went on, our team really fought hard to keep up that energy and momentum. For their part, Nottinghamshire raced to regroup after a very difficult day in the field. Even with Abbas’s early breakthroughs, Somerset’s middle order showed real depth and fight, which could be really important in the coming sessions.
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