Lewis Gregory’s commanding unbeaten 89 guided Somerset to a five-wicket triumph over Sussex in the Rothesay County Championship Division One clash at Taunton’s County Ground.
Chasing a modest target of 150 on a placid pitch, Somerset reached their goal just 30 minutes beyond the scheduled close of the day’s play. Gregory, opening the batting for the first time in his career, showcased his class with 12 fours across a fluent 118-ball innings.
Sussex had set a challenging second innings score thanks largely to John Simpson’s gritty unbeaten 82 off 164 balls. Fynn Hudson-Prentice chipped in with 41 and James Coles added 39. Somerset spinner Jack Leach was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with figures of four for 51.
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Despite Sussex’s resistance, Somerset earned 21 points from this victory, their second in succession, while Sussex managed just three points.
Sussex started the day with hope, but that was dented immediately when Craig Overton struck with his first ball, catching Tom Alsop off guard as he edged a low catch to Gregory at slip.
The visitors then lost two more quick wickets, including a run-out, reducing them to 129 for six. James Coles and John Simpson then steadied the innings with a composed 66-run partnership, both displaying positive intent on an increasingly batting-friendly surface.
Coles’s innings ended at 39 when he mistimed a shot to Tom Lammonby at mid-off, leaving Sussex at 195 for seven. Simpson remained resolute, supported by Hudson-Prentice after lunch, as Sussex pushed the total to 224 for seven.
Despite a rare dropped catch off Leach, Somerset’s bowlers persisted. Simpson brought up his half-century and frustrated the bowlers with steady strokeplay. However, once Hudson-Prentice was dismissed for 41 following an aggressive pull shot against Henry, Sussex’s resistance waned.
Henry quickly followed up by having Nathan McAndrew caught behind. Simpson continued to attack, forging a last-wicket partnership of 44 runs with Ollie Robinson before Robinson was caught at slip. Sussex were eventually all out for 335.
Somerset’s chase began with some nervous moments, including Gregory edging a delivery that was fortunately called a no-ball, and a dropped catch of Josh Davey. But Somerset’s top order soon took control.
After early wickets fell, including James Rew and Lammonby, Gregory’s calm and confident innings anchored the chase. He passed fifty with poise, hitting six fours along the way.
Though James Coles took two wickets to apply pressure, Gregory’s resilience shone through. He smashed three boundaries off Jack Carson in a decisive over before calmly dispatching the winning run, sealing Somerset’s well-earned victory.