Rose has field day
Notts 200 and 238 Somerset 309 and 130-0 Somerset won by 10 wkts
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Somerset staged their own Rose's match here, wrapping it up so quickly yesterday - in 22 overs of their second innings - that even Nottinghamshire's fielding-practice punishment was allowed to finish 10 minutes before the Cup Final kicked off.
Graham Rose, the tall all-rounder now in his 10th season in the West Country after two years at Lord's, gave a masterly and miserly display of medium-fast seam and swing bowling. On Thursday he equalled his career- best six for 41, an analysis he first achieved on his 1985 debut, and yesterday he went one better. With his second ball of the morning, a lively lifter outside off-stump, he induced a rabbit's reaction from the Nottinghamshire tail-ender David Pennett, and Shane Lee stretched high at second slip to assist Rose to match figures of 13 for 88.
The wicket prepared for last week's Surrey match here could have hosted a timeless Test, but it would unfairly detract from Rose's determined, line-and-length effort to imply that the groundstaff had leaped to the other extreme. After all, there were three international quick bowlers operating on the same track - Lee, Andrew Caddick and Chris Cairns - sharing a handful of wickets for a hatful of runs.
No, this was one of those warming occasions when a whole-hearted, experienced stalwart, assisted by a nostril-dilating gadget he'd seen used in rugby league's World Cup, and which might now receive a little respect in the Somerset dressing-room, earned his moment in the sun. Rose has remodelled his action, like Ian Bishop, to relieve pressure on the lower back, and has found early reward.
Nottinghamshire started yesterday at 236 for nine, a scant 128 in credit, and added only two before Rose's final success. The visitors' skipper, Paul Johnson, given little choice, attacked the bat when Mark Lathwell and Peter Bowler set off in pursuit but Somerset, Bowler in particular, are full of runs at present and the 130, mainly in boundaries, came in 75 minutes. Afterwards Rose, the match hero, confirmed that the Somerset squad are in better shape than for many an underachieving year, and cider with Rosie seemed a suitable toast.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments