Young steps up rate

Gloucestershire 350-8 dec Somerset 191-3

While they may nudge each other geographically, Gloucestershire and Somerset have looked to be poles apart in thinking during this game. The disagreement over which pitch should have been used is nothing compared with the respective approaches of contriving a possible finish to the game.

Gloucestershire displayed a certain degree of urgency on the way to maximum batting points. In-form Shaun Young cracked an entertaining 79-ball 83, which made his partner and captain Mark Alleyne look pedestrian on the way to his 70 off 123 deliveries.

Young is going to pose a tricky problem for Gloucestershire. Not only is he scoring plenty of runs, but he has also taken 29 Championship wickets. The Tasmanian wants to return to the county next season, but so does the West Indies captain Courtney Walsh, who is due a testimonial by Gloucestershire next season.

The Gloucestershire hearts were not really focused on rapid runs, their minds appearing set on the compromise of 11 points, which would at least restore them to the head of the Championship, albeit only by a point.

Without contrivance, however, there is little chance of conjuring a positive result; and there is no chance of the two captains conferring and coming to a mutual compromise, not after Thursday's shenanigans when feelings ran high during the pitch battle. The object of their disagreement turned in a disappointing performance as well, the pitch's lifelessness contributing to the negative turn of events.

Gloucestershire in any case were forced to spend too long over the residue of their first innings, and there was almost as much time lost fetching the ball from the boundary (a task for both sides) on a day of less-than- distinguished bowling.

Somerset, however, did begin well, Simon Ecclestone knocking off 30 in just 17 balls. Their captain Peter Bowler found the boundary as easily as Young had earlier in the day to reach a half-century - his first in the Championship for two months.

Together with Mark Lathwell, who is just rediscovering his touch, Bowler shared in a century partnership for the third wicket. Lathwell was markedly quicker in reaching his half-century - 82 balls and seven boundaries confirming his timing and choice of shot. He pulled imperiously and drove unstoppably - all in unspeakably hot and humid conditions.