County Championship: Overton & Abell hit tons as Somerset dominate Sussex

Centuries from Tom Abell and Craig Overton put Somerset in a dominant position on the second day of the County Championship Division One match with Sussex at the Cooper Associates Ground, Taunton.

Unbeaten on 74 overnight, Abell hit 119 off 192 balls, with 12 fours and a six, while Overton, who began the day on 26, made 111 from 137 deliveries, with 14 fours and two sixes, as the hosts ran up 526-8 declared. It was Abell’s 23rd first class hundred and Overton’s third.

The two 32-year-olds shared a sixth-wicket stand of 146 in 32.1 overs. Abell’s ton took his average in Championship cricket this season to 77.33, while all-rounder Overton is averaging 51.87. By the close of a rain-affected day, Sussex had replied with 22-1.

Play began on time at 11:00 BST, an Abell edge to third man for four off Tom Clark bringing up the half-century stand with Overton off 83 balls. After just 3.2 overs, drizzle started falling, Somerset having registered a third batting point at 350-5.

Play resumed at 12:10, Overton taking two boundaries in an over off Henry Crocombe, who sent down several short-pitched balls on the easy-paced pitch. Overton moved to an accomplished fifty off 63 balls, with eight fours.

Another short rain break interrupted proceedings at 375-5. With Somerset looking to accelerate towards a fourth bonus point, Overton pulled a six off Crocombe and by the time rain stopped play for the third time, the hosts needed just six more runs off four overs to achieve their target.

The weather closed in when lunch was taken at shortly after 12:50. Persistent rain delayed a restart until 16:25 with a total of 50 overs lost and a possible 36 left in the day.

Abell and Overton soon continued where they had left off, the former moving to a chanceless hundred with a single to mid-wicket off Crocombe. It was the third time he had reached three figures in the Championship this season.

Sussex finally broke the partnership with the total on 443 when Abell connected sweetly with a leg side shot off Jack Carson, but failed to clear mid-wicket where Clark took a sharp catch.

Overton needed one moment of good fortune on 99 when he was dropped by the diving Ollie Robinson at short mid-on off Carson. A two into the leg side in the same over saw him go to a 134-ball century, his second of the summer.

An otherwise assured innings ended when Overton was bowled advancing down the pitch to Coles. Lewis Gregory provided some lusty blows to boost the already significant total and moved quickly to 35. When he was caught behind off James Coles it prompted the declaration.

Sussex were left with a possible 12 overs to bat before stumps. Two were lost to a brief stoppage for bad light and the resumption saw Overton’s day get even better when he pinned Tom Haines lbw for six.

Play was brought to an abrupt end by floodlight failure with a possible 4.5 overs still to be bowled.