Lewis Gregory leads bowling charge as Josh Thomas scores unbeaten 136; Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow fall in dramatic Yorkshire collapse

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Somerset seized complete control on Day 1 of their County Championship Division One clash against Yorkshire County Cricket Club at Taunton, thanks to a dominant all-round display led by captain Lewis Gregory and a stunning maiden century from youngster Josh Thomas.

After being put in to bat under helpful seam conditions, Yorkshire looked steady at 124 for 3, with Joe Root (33) and Jonny Bairstow (34) building a fluent partnership. However, a dramatic collapse followed as they lost seven wickets for just 38 runs, folding for 162. Gregory was the chief destroyer, finishing with exceptional figures of 6 for 43 from 16 overs, dismantling the middle and lower order.

Yorkshire’s top order had shown promise earlier, with Fin Bean contributing 35, but once Gregory struck to remove Root and Bairstow in quick succession, the innings unraveled rapidly. Supported by disciplined bowling from the Somerset attack, Yorkshire had no answers to the movement and pressure applied.

Somerset’s reply got off to a shaky start as they slipped to 35 for 3, with early breakthroughs from Jack White and Jhye Richardson putting the hosts under pressure. However, 21-year-old Thomas turned the game on its head with a fearless counter-attacking innings.

Thomas played with confidence and flair, reaching his half-century off just 54 balls and converting it into a superb maiden century. His unbeaten 136 came off 150 deliveries and included 14 boundaries, showcasing his ability to handle both pace and spin with ease. He also survived an early scare on 10, a moment Yorkshire would regret.

At the other end, skipper Tom Abell provided solid support with an unbeaten 41, as the duo stitched together a crucial 166-run partnership. Their stand not only rescued Somerset from early trouble but also pushed them into a commanding lead by stumps, finishing the day at 201 for 3.

The pitch at Taunton offered assistance to seamers throughout the day, but Somerset adapted far better, both with the ball and bat. With a strong lead already in place and wickets in hand, Somerset are firmly in control heading into Day 2, while Yorkshire face an uphill battle to get back into the contest.