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Caddick topples Tykes

Derek Hodgson
Sunday 28 July 1996 23:02 BST
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Somerset 232-5 Yorkshire 230-8 Somerset won by 2 runs

Andrew Caddick, as so often in the last five days, had the last word. With Yorkshire needing 35 off the last four overs in poor light, drizzle starting, and three wickets left, he returned for his last two overs.

Richard Blakey and Peter Hartley managed only three runs in the first. In a 7,000 crowd even the drunks were hushed, then on their feet as Andy Hayhurst was hit for 11. Back came Caddick - he conceded three singles off the first four balls but the fifth bowled Blakey, the last recognised batsman, and although Chris Silverwood hit a magnificent six, off the last ball, over extra cover, Somerset had completed a memorable double.

Less than a week ago Yorkshire were being referred to as possible triple champions. Now they will now be praying their nerves will settle again before tomorrow's NatWest quarter-final at Hove.

David Byas has done his best to restore confidence - "we asked for results wickets here so we can't complain" - but the hard fact is his team, whether batting or bowling, can fall apart in 20 minutes.They are a young side, over-dependent upon Michael Bevan's runs.

Hayhurst, spotting a flat pitch, fast outfield and one short boundary, batted first. The openers made a steady 57 off the first 13 overs, with neither Darren Gough nor Silverwood looking at their best. They were just good enough to stop a gallop, aided by a field setting in which the two sweepers, Michael Vaughan and Anthony McGrath, excelled. Richard Stemp kept one end under control in eight mostly accurate overs, and once Hartley appeared, Somerset could raise little more than a canter.

Mark Lathwell was beaten by late bounce - Blakey's 100th Sunday League catch - and Simon Ecclestone departed in the same over. The next three batsmen all passed 50 as David Byas rotated his attack rapidly. Peter Bowler was gearing up when he played on to the first ball of Gough's second spell. Richard Harden, Somerset's most effective batsman, was also threatening when he misread White's length and Shane Lee, after hitting Silverwood over long on for six, edged to cover.

Yorkshire's response was another innings that had all the stability of a house of cards. The openers both fell in Graham Rose's shrewd opening spell, neither to a shot they will want to remember.

Blakey, helped first by Gough and then by Hartley, narrowed the gap, and the Somerset bowling looked thin. They never lost shape, though, and Caddick's return, with his accurate, varying length and pace, moving the ball, was decisive. He could be back in Yorkshire again in a fortnight, for the Leeds Test.

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