Gus Atkinson sent down 14 fierce overs and picked up two wickets for Surrey’s Second XI as Somerset finished on 260/5 on a first day that was shortened due to bad light at LSE, New Malden.
After Yousef Majid elected to field, Atkinson, who is returning from a hamstring injury and was released from England’s Test squad to get some overs under his belt, took the new ball alongside Nathan Barnwell, and struck in his third over. The right-arm quick got one to rise steeply and found the glove of Bertie Michael (6), with the edge looping into the hands of gully.
Sean Dickson and Josh Thomas navigated the new ball from there on and began to make hay, taking the visitors past 100 in the morning session. It was Atkinson (2/38) who broke the 84-run stand when he had Thomas (50) caught pulling at mid on by Majid.
Despite the wicket, Somerset regrouped again as Dickson carried on to anchor the innings while Andy Umeed provided solid assistance from the other end. The duo batted well to add another 102 runs before Chambers had Dickson caught behind for an unlucky but well-made 99.
Chambers (2/31) and wicketkeeper Ollie Pascall were again in action when Surrey pouched their fourth scalp, Umeed (47) fending and feathering a delivery that got big on him, leaving Somerset 234/4. A wicket brought another as Barnwell bounced out at FJ Hill (16) and Luke Griffiths safely held on to the catch at fine leg.
KT Roberts (17*) and BJ Church (4*) once again began to rebuild Somerset’s innings, and had added 18 runs from 39 balls, before the umpires took the players off the field for bad light and the visitors closed on 260/5 after 69 overs of red-ball cricket in New Malden.
