Wicketkeeper-batter becomes youngest Somerset player to record a double-hundred
James Rew became Somerset’s youngest-ever first-class double-centurion on the second day of the match with Hampshire at Taunton
James Rew became Somerset’s youngest-ever first-class double-centurion on the second day of the match with Hampshire at Taunton, solidifying his status as the league’s most promising batting prospect. Rew, who was only 19 years and 181 days old, increased his overnight score of 77 to 221 before being the last man out of his team’s 500-run first innings total. On day one, the scoreboard read 41 for 4 when Rew went to the crease. Twenty-three fours and four sixes were part of the teenage left-hander’s remarkable 310-ball, seven hours, 42-minute innings. This summer, thanks to his four Championship centuries, he had already established himself as the competition’s top run-maker. Before a last-wicket partnership of 108 between Shoaib Bashir and Dom Bess, who scored a career-best 44 not out, added insult to Hampshire’s injury, Somerset made a fantastic comeback from 80 for 5 thanks in part to the efforts of Kasey Aldridge and Dom Bess as well. The visitors responded with 58 for 2 by the time play ended, losing Joe Weatherley to the first ball of their innings following an exhausting 120 overs on the field. From when Somerset started a cloudy morning on 196 for 5, wicketkeeper Rew, who had already represented England at the Under-19 and Lions levels, became the day’s focus. He only needed a stroke of luck when James Vince dropped him at slip off the bowling of Liam Dawson after he had only contributed nine to his overnight total.
Rew reached his century off 184 balls with a beautiful cover-driven four off Dawson, and the remaining portion of the innings displayed what is quickly becoming his characteristic qualities of serenity, patience, excellent technique, and wise shot selection. On both sides of the pitch, there were a ton of wonderfully timed strokes as well. In contrast, Aldridge, a fellow academy alum of their county, lost nothing as the pair increased their partnership to 188 against Hampshire, a record for Somerset for the sixth wicket. When Dawson found an edge with a ball that spun and wicketkeeper Ben Brown grabbed the catch, he had struck 13 fours and was within 12 of a century. Bess, rejoining the team where his career began, began his brief loan from Yorkshire with a positive attitude. He hit seven fours and a six while putting on 94 runs in 22 overs with Rew before falling to another catch behind off Dawson, who was getting some assistance from the dry pitch. Alfie Ogbourne, playing in his first-class debut, and Jack Brooks were promptly dismissed by the left-arm spinner, who finished with figures of 4 for 118. But another 19-year-old, Bashir, who made only his third Championship debut, ruthlessly confirmed Hampshire’s tribulations were almost over at 392 for 9 by coolly settling in to hit three sixes and three fours in a 61-ball knock. Hampshire may have believed their trials were almost over at that point.
The tenth-wicket stand required fewer than 17 overs thanks to Rew’s explosiveness at the other end. When Rew reached 200 off 297 balls, he saluted with a subdued clenched fist as the ball increasingly frequently flew to and over a small boundary on the town side of the stadium. When Vince, who had made his first appearance in the bowling attack at 480 for 9, trapped him lbw when he was trying to clear the ropes again, his arduous exhibition of concentration ended. As the young hero of the moment departed the field to a standing ovation, many Hampshire players extended handshakes. Hampshire’s day, they appeared to be going from bad to worse. However, after serving tea, Brooks’ first delivery broke through Weatherley’s defense to knock back off stump. When the rain finally arrived to disrupt the proceedings after threatening to do so for the whole day, Fletcha Middleton and Nick Gubbins had fiercely answered with an unbroken stand of 39. On the first ball after the restart, Middleton defended a sharply rising delivery from Aldridge to third slip and left the field for 24. Seven more runs were added before the rain returned, and 4.2 more overs were bowled before a third downpour and stumps at 5.45 p.m.
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