Ricardo Vasconcelos shines amid gloom on truncated day in Taunton
Northamptonshire 137 for 4 (Vasconcelos 70) vs Somerset
Ricardo Vasconcelos made one of the best of a nasty state of affairs to register a notable half-century and maintain Northants afloat on the primary day of the LV=County Championship match in opposition to Somerset on the Cooper Associates Ground at Taunton.
On a day when the primary division’s backside two groups sought the reassurance that solely optimistic progress can present, they have been annoyed by the rain that rolled off the Quantock Hills and ensured solely 37.4 overs have been doable. Without a win in three outings this season, Somerset gained the toss and elected to bowl on a green-tinged pitch, and Northants, nonetheless with out a batting bonus level in 2023, reached 137 for 4 earlier than the weather closed in to drive a untimely cessation of hostilities.
Just as nicely then that Vasconcelos was readily available to light up a dismal day, the 25-year-old South African making mild of situations and common climate interruptions to top-score with 70 earlier than changing into the primary of two victims claimed by Somerset seamer Lewis Gregory.
Having averaged a meagre 25.04 in a marketing campaign blighted by damage in 2022 and with out a rating worthy of point out up to now this time period, Vasconcelos rocked up within the West Country with a degree to show. By the time he was completed, he had helped stage Northamptonshire’s highest opening stand of the season and raised his first fifty since making 76 in opposition to Surrey in September final yr.
He helped himself to 13 boundaries in an innings spanning 103 balls and dominated partnerships of 65 and 51 with Hassan Azad and stand-in captain Sam Whiteman for the primary and second wickets respectively earlier than Somerset launched a fightback after lunch to even issues up.
Of course, the day may need turned out fairly otherwise had Vasconcelos, but to attain and groping exterior off stump, not been dropped by Tom Kohler-Cadmore at first slip off Craig Overton within the very first over. He actually made good his escape, making a lot of the operating in a gap stand that served to confound Somerset expectations.
With England bowler Overton restored to the beginning line-up after damage, Somerset skipper Tom Abell had no hesitation in inserting the opposition. But the hosts have been responsible of losing the brand new ball, too many deliveries fading down leg facet when the minimal requirement was to make the batter play.
As such, there was a way of reduction in dwelling ranks when the breakthrough lastly arrived half-hour previous to the lunch interval. Straightened up by an in-swinging supply from Kasey Aldridge, Azad succeeded in fending low to 3rd slip the place Overton demonstrated secure palms.
Azad contributed 20 in a gap stand of 65 in 19.3 overs and his dismissal gave the hosts renewed hope. But any sense of optimism was tempered as Vasconcelos went to 50 from 73 balls with 10 fours and, along with Whiteman, ushered Northants to 108 for 1 at lunch.
Although storm clouds have been gathering to the south, there was nonetheless time in a truncated afternoon session for Kohler-Cadmore to atone for his earlier fumble, first slip making no mistake to snaffle Whiteman after Overton situated his exterior edge. Nevertheless, Whiteman nonetheless remained at massive for lengthy sufficient so as to add 51 in 10.5 overs with Vasconcelos for the second wicket, and Northants have been little doubt nonetheless glad with their lot when dangerous mild pressured the gamers from the sphere at 2pm with the rating on 117-2.
Their temper darkened considerably when, upon resuming following a brief break, Vasconcelos, his focus compromised, pushed ahead at a ball from Gregory and nicked off to Overton at second slip.
With Somerset’s seamers visibly warming to their process, worse adopted for Northants when Saif Zaib, in for injured captain Luke Procter, performed down the flawed line and misplaced his off stump to Gregory, at which level the guests had misplaced three wickets for the addition of 21 runs in seven overs. By the time dangerous mild intervened as soon as extra at 2.41pm, Northants have been 137 for 4 and the competition had taken on an altogether completely different complexion.
While Overton and Peter Siddle stored issues tight, Gregory proved essentially the most incisive of Somerset’s seam quartet, ending with 2 for 44 from 10.4 overs. He and his team-mates know that extra of the identical might be required on day two if Somerset are to register a primary win of the season.