Eddie Byrom wins the battle with Simon Harmer but the war is yet to start

NICK HOWSON AT LORD'S: It was no coincidence that Essex suffered one of their most difficult days in recent red-ball cricket as their trump card struggled

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This five-day domestic final at Lord's is likely to be the closest Simon Harmer gets to a return to international Test cricket. Hopes of qualifying for England are over while a return for South Africa is far from certain. The 31-year-old has been the best bowler in English domestic cricket since he arrived at Chelmsford in 2017, but adding further honours for either nation looks a grim prospect.

Essex have claimed two County Championship titles and the T20 Blast since Harmer was signed up three years ago, and he has been instrumental at every stage of their success. No one has more wickets than his 251 first-class scalps since his arrival. Signed up as an overseas player from next season as his Kolpak deal ceases to exist there are few signs he is about to slow down.

Though it would be unfair to suggest that a team with Sir Alastair Cook and Jamie Porter rely on one single figure for inspiration, Harmer has been the epicentre of their glorious red-ball revival. Any victory at Lord's this week will have to come with a major contribution from his right-arm spin.

The sky's the limit for Eddie Byrom

It might, therefore, act as a worry for Essex over how their main man fared on day two. This fresh strip has offered much grip and having spent plenty of time under the hover cover that might not change even by the time we reach the weekend. Nevertheless, he might still have wished for better than a return of 20-6-36-2 - with both his scalps coming in the final over against the tail. Granted, Somerset did not pile on the runs against him but they looked at ease like so few have over the last four seasons.

Eddie Byrom was the chief beneficiary. The 23-year-old produced a controlled innings, built on positivity against anything lose and a solid defence. Nothing revolutionary. It might even catch on. His century has Somerset in charge, for what it is worth in a contest yet to justify the pre-game hype.

It was a strikingly easier day to bat than during the opening exchanges. The sun shone for long periods when play was possible. Sam Cook and Jamie Porter were on the money but Aaron Beard and Paul Walter were crucially unable to sustain the pressure. That ensured the runs flowed before lunch.

Byrom has endured the most challenging season of his short professional career. The Zimbabwean hasn't scored more than 30 in a single innings in either format in 2020. For anyone who saw it, his 54 from 19 deliveries against Surrey in his Blast debut was among the best individual performances of last summer. He also averaged 96.50 from his four first-class knocks. A Kings College graduate who is eyeing an England spot, his progress was even rewarded with a Hundred contract worth £30,000 with Manchester Originals.

^{It was another frustrating day at Lord's}

However, this year has been quite the comedown.

Given the stage and the opponent, this was was a cracking knock. Lord's can flatten out at the best of times, some of Essex's bowlers were overused (Cook and Porter bowled 50 of the first 81 overs) and overheads made it pleasant to bat but the situation added to its importance. Much of the hard work had been done on day one when the ball did a bit off the pitch and Cook and Porter were at their very best. Byrom had earned a period of respite and he took full advantage.

It was a chanceless knock and made all the more impressive by the manner in which he saw-off Harmer. On day two the pair duelled for 26 balls, with Byrom scoring 16 with three boundaries. There was some irony in the Harare-born right-hander smacking the spinner to the boundary as the deafening noise of construction workers hammering away on the redevelopment of the Compton and Edrich stands reverberated around St John's Wood.

Harmer looked more of a threat upon returning following a lengthy bout of rain, with a hint of turn evident, but he was quickly surplus to requirements when the new ball was made available. In the hands of a recharged Cook it ticked nicely, as he ended the effort of Byrom (117) and dismissed Lewis Gregory to claim a first five-for of the campaign.

The battle was the overwhelming highlight of another largely underwhelming day. This might not be the last season-ending red-ball final, but the excitement which accompanied it is beginning to diminish. The contest is increasingly looking like a one innings shoot-out. The team ahead after both have batted once will be given the trophy if the match finishes as a draw, so the regulations say.

^{Simon Harmer didn't have things all his own way}

The last thing we need is another intervention from an inadequate tiebreaker in a Lord's final. The fear might be that Essex, led by Cook who has six first-class centuries and 15 fifties on this ground, could grind away without having to show any real ambition to win the match. The regulation might help ensure Tom's Westley and Abell aren't awkwardly clutching the silverware on Sunday evening, but it is imperfect all the same.

Somerset have yet to concede more than 200 in this competition and a continuation to that record will be key, if not to them winning but to allow Essex time to turn around a first innings deficit. A first innings leader will have more than one hand on the trophy given how much time in the game has already been lost.

Twelve months ago the equivalent title-decider at Taunton was ruined by inclement conditions which even a bunsen burner of a pitch couldn't save. For lightning to strike twice this week would be a cruel end to a red-ball season which deserves better.

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