Century milestone for Loye
Somerset 299 Northamptonshire 358-5
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Your support makes all the difference.The traditional cricket atmosphere which Richard Caborn is apparently keen to preserve has had no trouble asserting itself here these last two days, a smattering of spectators gathered to observe in customary hush, broken only for the occasional ripple of applause. Late yesterday, under a cloudless sky, even this plainly urban ground offered a scene unmistakeably typical of an English summer.
On the field another tradition, recently revived, was also being maintained that of the Northamptonshire opener, Mal Loye, batting through the day to register his third big hundred in consecutive Championship matches at Wantage Road.
Loye's unbeaten 194 followed 167 not out against Surrey and 177 against Lancashire, raising his total centuries for Northamptonshire to 16, overtaking the record previously held by David Capel.
Loye has been threatening great deeds since scoring close to a thousand runs in his first full season in 1993. He smashed the Northamptonshire record, held by Raman Subba Row, by making 322 not out against Glamorgan in 1998, and an England career seemed to beckon.
However, a forgettable 1999 was followed by an incomplete recovery last season and his return to form this year is something he attributes to help given by Capel, now the county's director of excellence.
When he was on 67, a chance spilled by Richard Johnson at long on, against the off-spinner Keith Dutch, seeking revenge for being hit for 21 in one over, was his only moment of uncertainty yesterday. Loye hit 25 fours and three sixes, anchoring partnerships of 160 with Russell Warren, who made 64, and 84 with Alec Swann as Northamptonshire built a lead of 59.
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