Two very different hundreds as Jamie Overton and Steven Davies reach three figures

SAM DALLING: They put on 180 for the ninth wicket. There’s a bittersweet element to it, naturally. After tomorrow, Overton has a maximum of three red-ball appearances left in Somerset colours. Surrey will be delighted; an allrounder in the making?

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Another day, another dominant performance from Somerset. It’s becoming all too predictable. Not that Tom Abell and his band of merry men will mind too much.

Doubt the hordes of fans who log on to follow their team on the live stream will be moaning either.

Weather permitting, it could soon be three wins from three. Warwickshire – 188 runs behind with four second innings wickets in hand – have some work to do if they are to avoid the same fate as suffered by Northamptonshire and Glamorgan.

Abell’s side are favourites to top the group with two rounds remaining. They still have local rivals Gloucestershire and Worcestershire to see off, but they’d be forgiven for daring to dream. If they can maintain their current performance levels, they will have a good chances of another trip to Lord’s in September.

There will be plenty of twists and turns yet but they will be licking their lips at the thoughts of a showdown with but County Championship holders Essex. Those two sides in a late September title bunfight; where have we seen that before?

Somerset’s real strength lies in their bowling attack. At times, there are murmurs from the fanbase about a fragile batting line-up. A half-truth; only the case when compared to the embarrassment of bowling riches at their disposal.

Naturally, they’d love a man guaranteed to notch up 1,500 runs a season. Who wouldn’t? But they don’t come around too often, so most have to make do without.

^{Steven Davies made a more classical hundred than Jamie Overton, who bludgeoned his way to three figures}

Today they racked up 413 for 9 in their first innings to take the contest by the scruff of its neck. Two men reached triple figures for Somerset and they did so in vastly contrasting styles.

The first man to the milestone was Steven Davies, an elegant left-hander now into his fourth season with the West Country outfit. At his fluent best he’s wonderful to watch, with a drive through the offside that would have any cricket-lover purring.

But it’s been a bit of a mixed bag since he arrived at Somerset, and he failed to make a single appearance in white-ball cricket last season. The emergence of Tom Banton had a big hand in that, but still surprising for a player who appeared 13 times in England colours a decade or so ago.

Some of the flak he has taken is unjustified. At times, it feels as though he has been made something of a scapegoat, but an average of 30-odd is not to be sniffed at when you call Taunton home.

Twice already this season Davies has made match-defining contributions. Long may it continue. A more popular man in the dressing room you’ll be hard pushed to find.

The other ton registered today was a first for Jamie Overton. It was no secret that he could bat a bit, and he bludgeoned his way to a career-best with his powerful lower-order hitting.

Had spectators been at Edgbaston today they’d have been ducking for cover; he struck six sixes and 15 fours in a knock of 120 from just 92 deliveries. Only three times before has the 100 mark been reached for the club with more runs coming in boundaries.

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