Skipper Lewis Gregory’s unbeaten 89 steers Somerset to victory over Sussex at Staunton.
Lewis Gregory played the captain’s role to perfection, crafting a masterful unbeaten 89 as Somerset defeated Sussex by five wickets on day three of their County Championship clash at Taunton. His calm, composed 118-ball innings—laced with 12 crisp boundaries—steered his side home in an extended day’s play, completing back-to-back Championship wins and collecting 21 points in the process.
Set a modest 150 to win on a flattening surface, Somerset were made to sweat early in their second innings. Gregory’s edge off Ollie Robinson’s second ball could’ve proven fatal, but a no-ball spared him. Josh Davey was less fortunate, bowled by Robinson soon after. Tom Lammonby then fell lbw, and when James Rew edged behind playing loosely to Nathan McAndrew, Somerset teetered at 30-3.
Tom Abell took 25 deliveries to get off the mark, a nervy start that reflected the pressure, but a square cut off Fynn Hudson-Prentice settled his nerves. Gregory, however, was the glue. His 50 came off 73 balls, and with Abell adding a patient 27, Somerset inched towards their goal. James Coles briefly raised Sussex’s hopes, removing both Abell and Tom Banton, but Gregory surged on.
With boundaries flowing—three in an over off Jack Carson—Gregory fittingly struck the winning run, sealing the contest and underlining his value both as opener and skipper.
Earlier, Sussex resumed their second innings at 127-4 and frustrated Somerset with a dogged display. John Simpson was the standout, anchoring the innings with an unbeaten 82 off 164 balls. His stay included six boundaries and a pulled four that brought up a gritty half-century. He shared valuable partnerships with James Coles (39), Fynn Hudson-Prentice (41), and Ollie Robinson (18).
Somerset had started the day strongly, Craig Overton striking with his first delivery as Tom Alsop edged to Gregory at slip. James Hayes was soon run out, but Simpson and Coles halted the collapse with a 66-run stand. Coles’ aggression was his undoing—driving Leach to mid-off after six fluent boundaries.
Simpson and Hudson-Prentice added 78 across 28 overs, frustrating Somerset further, until Matt Henry cleaned up the latter with a ball that sent the off stump flying. The Kiwi then removed McAndrew cheaply, but Simpson attacked with Robinson in a final-wicket stand of 44 before the latter edged to slip off Jack Leach (4-51). Henry finished with 3-90.
Somerset’s bowlers had laboured for wickets, but the batting effort, under pressure, delivered. With two wins on the bounce, Gregory’s men now look firmly embedded in the Division One title conversation. Sussex, by contrast, had to settle for just three points and will rue their inability to build on Simpson’s fight
