There are few better sights in the world of cricket than Marcus Trescothick in full flow.
That is, of course, unless you were of Yorkshire persuasion on day two of the county’s LV= County Championship clash with Somerset.
Trescothick provided a batting master-class at Taunton, making his way to 189 against the Tykes and helping his side to a first-innings lead of 31 by the close of a fascinating day’s play.
The former England opener was in ominous form from the first ball, which he struck to the cover boundary for four, as Yorkshire suffered a frustrating day in the field for the most part.
They had to wait until just before tea to pick up their first wicket after Trescothick and fellow opener Arul Suppiah set about attacking the visitors’ first-innings total of 358 with gusto.
Trescothick was initially the more dominant batsman, making his way to 50 off just 75 balls, before Suppiah overcame a nervy beginning to join his captain in plundering the Yorkshire seam bowlers to all parts.
The Tykes did not help themselves by dropping him twice in the slips, on nine and 68, but by the time Suppiah was finally ousted for 95 by Bradford-born Adil Rashid, he had played his part in a thrilling opening partnership of 257.
It was at this stage that the day finally improved for Yorkshire with a fightback that could yet be vital in the final reckoning of this match.
Suppiah’s wicket was the first of six to fall in the closing 39 overs – including Trescothick’s to give Ryan Sidebottom a 500th first-class victim – as Somerset experienced a similar collapse to Yorkshire’s on day one.
It saw them fall from 257-0 to 389-6 by the close with only James Hildreth, unbeaten on 49, providing any resistance.
With a lead of only 31 going into day three, this game remains delicately poised.
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