Prithvi Shaw 244 units up thumping Northants win over Somerset

Northamptonshire 415 for 8 (Shaw 244, Whiteman 54, Brooks 3-75) beat Somerset 328 (Umeed 77, Dickson 52, Keogh 4-49) by 87 runs

The India worldwide placed on a batting masterclass blasting 11 sixes and 28 fours. Along the best way he eclipsed his undefeated 227 for Mumbai in opposition to Puducherry at Jaipur in 2021. He additionally moved previous Ben Duckett’s 220 not out for England Lions in opposition to Sri Lanka A in 2016 to put up the second-highest ever List A innings made in England. Only Alistair Brown with 268 for Surrey in opposition to Glamorgan on the Oval in 2002 has scored extra.

After virtually chopping on earlier than scoring, Shaw didn’t provide one other likelihood till he handed 200. He made batting look easy, scoring throughout the wicket, threading the ball by means of the gaps with surgical precision. Somerset didn’t assist issues both with some uncharacteristically subpar floor fielding and catching.

Shaw took on the spinners, utilizing his ft to hit down the bottom or sweeping excessive over long-off, one ball flying out of the bottom. He additionally performed fluently in opposition to the seamers, controlling the hook shot effectively, driving and slicing and twice depositing Somerset’s most skilled bowler Jack Brooks over long-off for six.

He reached his first 100 off 81 balls earlier than powering to 200 off simply 48 extra. In the method, he overtook David Sales’ 161 in 2006, the earlier finest for the Steelbacks in 50-over cricket, earlier than shifting previous David Willey’s 167 in 2013 and Wayne Larkins’ 172 in 1983, each scored in 40-over affairs.

Emilio Gay had given Northamptonshire’s innings a robust basis within the powerplay with a gap partnership value 63, hitting six boundaries earlier than he performed Shoaib Bashir straight to mid-on.

Shaw discovered one other associate in Ricardo Vasconelos with the pair sharing a stand of 112 in 16.3 overs. They focused Curtis Campher, taking 18 off one over, Vasconcelos taking Northamptonshire previous 150 by hooking him for six.

Vasconcelos was gifted three lives, first on 22 when quick midwicket could not maintain onto a troublesome likelihood, then when extra simple probabilities had been put down on 32 and 38. George Thomas had the ultimate phrase although, taking a pointy catch off his personal bowling.

Shaw duly introduced up his century off 81 balls, slowing barely as Goldsworthy extracted some flip. He quickly discovered his ft in opposition to Brooks, as the previous Steelbacks bowler conceded 19 off one over.

Sam Whiteman hit a six and 5 fours in a run-a-ball 50, however in any other case performed second fiddle to Shaw as they placed on 194 in 18.3 overs. They introduced up Northamptonshire’s 200 within the thirty second over and motored to 300 within the thirty ninth earlier than Whiteman was bowled by Danny Lamb.

Tom Taylor was run out after being dropped first ball – the primary of 4 wickets to fall for 2 runs as Northamptonshire misplaced three batters to catches whereas trying to power the tempo, giving Brooks three comfort scalps.

Shaw began the ultimate over with six down the bottom, however his lengthy keep lastly ended when he holed out off Lamb and left to a standing ovation.

In the reply, Thomas fell trying to drag a brief ball from Taylor, however Umeed was in good contact, pulling Jack White for six and hitting Simon Kerrigan for 2 big sixes, one into the highest of the Spencer Pavilion and one which flew excessive. His downfall got here when he was trapped in entrance by Keogh, trying to brush.

Goldsworthy had performed the junior associate, hanging simply 4 boundaries, and chipped Keogh to long-off the place Vasconcelos took a surprising catch. The spinner then collected his third scalp when he trapped the in-form James Rew lbw trying a reverse sweep.

George Bartlett fell to Luke Procter for 13, however Dickson and Campher went on the offensive, attempting to maintain up with an ever-rising run charge. Dickson hit Kerrigan down the bottom for six whereas Campher meted out related therapy to Taylor earlier than he fell to a high quality boundary catch from James Sales off Taylor.

Lamb reverse-swept Keogh for six however gave Taylor his third wicket when he was caught at large mid-off. Dickson’s captain’s knock ended when he was caught within the deep and with him went Somerset’s final hope. The tail wagged vigorously however in the end in useless.

“The sun was out, it was kind of like Indian weather today so it was really looking good,” Shaw mentioned. “You know when an inside edge doesn’t get me out, that means this day is for me. You have to be lucky sometimes, so I think this was a day for me. I didn’t look back after that.

“The 227 was in my head to be sincere. I spoke to Whitey [Whiteman] when he was there and I instructed him it is 227, my highest rating. But it was a great crew effort throughout. I all the time try to win matches for the crew and I’m the form of a participant who places my crew first after which myself. If scoring like this may also help my crew to win, then I ought to proceed this.”

On his motivation for playing county cricket, Shaw added: “Definitely expertise for certain. Not actually considering what the Indian selectors could also be considering, however I simply wish to have a great time right here, have a great time with the gamers over right here and the help employees. Northamptonshire have given me this chance… they’re actually taking care of me. I’m actually having fun with it.”