A PPP Pub

Yorkshire 254 & 218 all out 

v Durham 227 all out 

and 249 for 9 

Yorkshire 91 for 3 

Durham win by 1 Wicket 

County Championship Division Two 

Sunday 14 May 2023 

Played at Chester-le-Street 

Somerset 325 for 6 

v Middlesex 

close on Day One 

County Championship Division One 

Thursday 18 May 2023 

Played at Lord's 

A one wicket win is, by the maths, tight as arseholes. But, I'm here to testify that it didn't feel that way at the end. In a two hundred and bits each innings game, it's going to come tight.

Malan and Bairstow began Saturday. And took their stand to 95. That was Malan gone at 136 for 4. Bairstow went soon after. Save for a lovely, and needed, 51 off 52 from George Hill, the innings fizzled out a bit from there. Leaving Durham just under 250 to win it.

A good start had them 47 for 1, 82 for 2, and a still healthy Bon Jovi at 136 for 3. The Fish had Robinson at 147 for 4, and Jones at 150 for 5, and de Leede at 154 for 6. Even I thought Yorks might get it home from there.

Jordan Thompson reinforced that with two in two to leave Durham 173 for 8. At 191 for 8, with 55 still needed, we went into the extra half hour. But, in a sense, that was that. 213 for 8 at close. Everyone in the Carrier Bag Firm have a late finish truncated night on the ale. And come back in the morning.

Which we did. I was left a bit confused by Masood's fields. Seemed to be ones and twos for the taking. Nowt funky. Just fucking letting it drift. Late drama, with Potts going for 25 with just two needed. And the injured Carse hobbling out with Borthwick as his runner. Cliché time. Only takes one ball to win it.

Dot. Dot. Dot. Two to Third Man.

Fuck Sake. Train Home.

Gilbert & Smith's, 413 Durham Rd, Low Fell, Gateshead NE9 5AN

A micropub owned by the Whitley Bay Brewing Co. Very well appointed place. Micropubs are becoming so gloriously embedded in British Pub Culture that I feel different categories are emerging. This one in what I call the - Prosecco and Premium Pilsner PPP - category. Nothing wrong there. Got to get the punters in. 

I'm going to single out;

Whitley Bay Brewing Co, Dark Knight, Stout on Cask at 4.5%

Great stout. It's the bitterness that does it. Very little lead in, maybe hints of coffee, then great bitter in the finish, some burnt thingy all the way through. Lovely.

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Stats 

I have now Blogged from 1,265 games in 3,194 days 

Brews Of The World

Yorkshire 520 All Out
Somerset 196 All Out
& Somerset (Following On) 251 All Out
Yorkshire win by an Innings and 73 Runs
(I attended Day 3 only) Monday 15 July
Played at Headingley

Burton Albion 2 v Sheffield United 1
Pre Season Friendly
Tuesday 16 July 2019

SUFC 2019/20 Game 4

Twitter @ball_sup
www.twitter.com/ball_sup
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As I was planning my beer day out in Burton, I was coming up against the usual Tuesday Teatime Turmoil. This one was shut, this one was open at 4, this one at 5. I’d more or less steeled myself to give a pep talk to the Carrier Bag Firm. Look, it’s Burton, it’s Tuesday, it’s Old Beer. Maybe we’d just look to snaffle some tasty old fashioned beers positioned on the bar near the Pedigree. But, a rumour emerged. There’s a single room off licence, with keg taps on the wall, and maybe a few tab;es & chairs scattered about. Google Maps. Here. We. Come. Thing is, inconclusive, no tables & chairs in them photies. Phone Him. Bingo. Yes. We have keg taps. Yes. You can sit in here & drink. No. It’s not just an Off Licence.

It was under those circumstances that we found ourselves in Brews Of The World - read all about it as Weller would have it. There now follows a Regionalist Comment, look away Me Duck. The guy who was running the show had such a strong local accent, that I couldn’t really make much of his answers to my detailed questioning about Beers, ownership & other local supping opportunities. Anyway. Great place, I would highly recommend it if you like your Keg Craft Beers. The board was very interesting. The “have you got any lager” Lager was Tegernseer Hell, from Herzoglich Bayerisches Brauhaus. The Weissbier was from Schlossbrauerei Irlbach in Bayern. There were a dozen (ish) on the board.

Odyssey Brew Co, Double Chocolate Stout at 7%. Which I’m afraid was a bit of a miss for me. It looked a bit messy. Grey rather than black. Not much of a head. A bit univiting. I warmed to the fact that it wasn’t sickly sweet. But, mate, if you’d have said that was a single chocolate stout, I’d have said - FFS needs more chocolate. Double, it weren’t

Brew York, Cereal Killa (Gluten Free), alleged West Coast IPA, at 6.5%. Thin & insipid, with no discernible Hops. That’s not a good strapline for a North of 6% IPA.

Which leaves Outstanding Beer Of The Day;

Left Handed Giant, Wild Years, American IPA at 6%. Lovely & thick. The sugar mixes in straight away with the mainly upfront hop bitterness. That was a game saving, straight ahead IPA.

Let us put that game down to just get some cobwebs off pre season. I’m not sure we learn anything. But, I’m not overly concerned either. New “how much” Lad, Callum Robinson looked lively when he came on. Luke Freeman didn’t stand out, as he hadn’t in Portugal. Some nice bench warming for a number of Academy Lads - Reece York, Zak Brunt, Harry Boyes & Jake Young. Along with pukka back up keeper Marcus Dewhurst.

Stats
I have now Blogged from 821 games in 1,792 days

The Hungry Bear

Somerset 399 all out
v Yorkshire 320 all out
Somerset 339 for 7 declared
Yorkshire 194 all out
Somerset win by 224 runs

County Championship Division One

Wednesday/Thursday/Friday 29/30/31 August 2018

Played at Headingley

Twitter @ball_sup
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I just went to Days 1/2/3. Yorkshire were a thoroughly depressing 8 for 2 at close on Day 3. That is a proper relegation battle now. Just nine points cover the bottom four - although Lancashire in fourth bottom have played a game more.

The lurching continues. Bresnan “rested”. Tattersall spasm. Hodd back from the 2s. No spinner. Somerset asked for a Toss. We won it. Stuck them in anyway. Had them at 5 for 2. Begat 170 for 3 (4th went at 170). They finished just shy of 400.

Brewery Review
The Hungry Bear
10-14 Stonegate Rd, Leeds LS6 4HY

I did my usual smiley quiz with the lady who served me. Are the beers really made here? (No Kit on show). Upstairs? Downstairs? Is there anything to see? She did the perfect set of replies. Without the “oh, here we go, he's even got a Carrier Bag with him” look. Very welcoming.

Well. That is Nano. I stuck my head in. No one about. But, I didn't want to be arrested as an intruder. So, only quick gander. The fermentation vessels were plastic buckets. Is all I'm saying. Matters. Not. Water. Malt. Hops. Yeast. Good. Job.

There was a public room up there. But, essentially, it's a small one downstairs room cafe cum restaurant cum bar. There were two keg fonts on the bar. One was off. But, it was clearly in the process of being changed. And I was pointed at the bottle list on the blackboard. There were five on there - mix of 500 mils & 750 Bombers. I went for the single keg.

The Hungry Bear, Aurora, keg pale ale at 4.4%. Fresh & zesty. Definitely Lemon coming through. The bitterness was understated. But, hit the spot.

707/1473

Gone in 38.3

Somerset 267 all out
beat Yorkshire 213 all out
Somerset 281-4 declared
Yorkshire 157 all out
by 179 runs

County Championship Division One

Played at Scarborough

Thursday 6 July 2017

Twitter @ball_sup

That day cut short by Crap Cricket. I rushed and got the 1457 train. I didn't have time for a drink. In the gloom that surrounds Yorkshire Championship Cricket, “at least they got 157”.

We didn't last 40 overs. Only Lyth & Bresnan lasted more than 50 balls. Lees, Brook & Handscomb. Three balls, nine balls, one ball. Kohler-Cadmore lasted 14 balls - during which he hit a six. They are playing a game with which I am not familiar. Because it ain't fucking cricket. Start again. Tell them to stay at the crease. Tell them what's acceptable. If they get out. Quickly. Playing a stupid shot. Ask them. “Why did you play that 'un?”. Go from there…..

Better beer offer from Scarborough Cricket Club.
Rudgate, Viking Golden Ale on cask at 3.8%
Wold Top, Angler's Reward on keg at 4%
Both in the Pavilion Bar
Wold Top, Hello Velo on keg at 4.2% in the Popular Side Bar.

499/1052

World's Worst Raffle

Somerset 267 all out
v Yorkshire 213 all out
Somerset 234-3
close on Day 3

County Championship Division One

Played at Scarborough

Wednesday 5 July 2017

Twitter @ball_sup

That day cut short by Bad Light.

I think you can usually tell the state a cricket club is in by the state it's Raffle is in. Today….

“Raffle Tickets. Raffle Tickets”
“How much are they?”
“£1 each”
“What do you win?”
“I don't know, there's a Daily Prize”
“Nice, what is it?”
“Don't know, just write your name & phone number on the stub there. Although this pen is neither use nor ornament”

And, there, M’Lud, the Prosecution rests. 289 ahead, and they've still got seven in the hutch. Yorkshire now TWO bowlers down. As Plunkett joins Sidebottom on the couch. As it got darker, I presume The Umps asked Captain Bresnan whether he'd be putting the spinners on. Mate, he's more likely to get Liam out for one last four bouncer over. Eventually some marvellous acting by the Yorkshire fielders. “Failing to see” a ball crashed to the boundary. Persuaded the extraction of the Light Meter.

The Hole In The Wall. A new one for me. Three on Cask. Sign saying “No Children”.

Lovely, refreshing, tasty, revitalising pint of Roosters, Yankee at 4.3%.

498/1051

Up short

Somerset 267 all out
v Yorkshire 159-7
close on Day 2

County Championship Division One

Played at Scarborough

Tuesday 4 July 2017

Twitter @ball_sup

That day cut short by rain. There's a little bit of stickability come into it. Brook, Kohler-Cadmore, Bresnan & Rashid have all faced 50 or more deliveries. Kohler-Cadmore ended up with 31 from 92 balls. But, we were already 6 down when we passed the somewhat meagre follow on at 119. I've gone to bed not sure what state Sidebottom is in. Maybe he'll strap the pads on if there is a Bonus Point hanging. But, even that looks some way in the distance from 159.

You've just got to do it in bits. Plunkett & Rashid need to get a few more. The tail then take their chances. Today just looked like a horrible day for batting. But, the forecast has it overcast. So, no one is going to have it easy. Somerset might find it difficult to get to a declaration. Craig Overton has bowled over one third of the overs. Taken 5-78.

I'll speak as I find. I've been in The Stumble Inn twice so far on this trip. And, been short changed on each visit. Change from a fiver, but had handed a tenner over. Handed a fiver over for a pint, only got silver back in my hand. Smiled, with my palms open both times. Gentle whisper “gave you a tenner” “only eighty pence there”. Sorry. Rectified. Different bar person each time. Very chatty. But. Not a good look.

Tonight.
Fell, Tinderbox IPA on Cask at a whopping 6.3%
Ship & Mitre, Silhouette (Stout) on Cask at 4.5%
Old School Brewery, Assembly IPA on Cask at 5.2%

497/1050

Unsettling pace

Somerset 267 all out
v Yorkshire 42-3
close on Day 1

County Championship Division One

Played at Scarborough

Monday 3 July 2017

Twitter @ball_sup

Ditto.

Batting vulnerability. Frailties. Catching practice. See many previous Blogs. Lyth 4 off 15. Lees 12 off 32. Handscomb 2 off 5. You're 21 for 3 from 11 overs.

But, man. It was great to see Plunkett again. He's an athlete. Fielding in those short mid on/mid off positions. He'll stop the lot. In that discipline, his hand/eye coordination is ridiculous. He's also bowled the most overs (21). Taking four for 73. The perspective is that Rashid went for 74 off just 13 overs. Rash suffered. A lot. From a free flowing 61 run 10th wicket stand.

It looked to me like the strip was just pacy. Plunkett, at his pace, just unsettles people. Maybe they're not hopping & jumping. But, their trigger movements & judgement of length are shot. You end up with (for eg) Lewis Gregory getting bowled round his legs shuffling across. There were a good few plays & misses. And, could have been chopped ons. But, for once, YCCC capitalised a bit. And got amongst the wickets. But, it got away from them at times. From 200-8 to 268.

And then the Somerset bowlers let some pace go. 42-3. We're back where we started.

All of which was discussed at some length in Indigo Alley. Behind….

Wold Top, Headland Red on cask at 4.3%
Muirhouse, Malibrew on cask at 4.5%

Oy. Pal. Have you missed that. Malibrew. You know sounds a bit like Malibu. 'cause it's got some pineapple & coconut in.

496/1049

Beer Guide Cusp

Yorkshire 145 all out
lost to Somerset 390 all out
Yorkshire 286 all out
Somerset 44-0
by 10 wickets

County Championship Division 1

Played at Headingley

Retford United U19 0 v Sheffield United U19 12 (Twelve)

North Midlands Development Football League U19 North

Wednesday 14 September 2016

Twitter @ball_sup

The maths never stacked up. At Tea with Lehmann & Plunkett at it. By the close, Yorkshire might have been 120 ahead. That might have spiced things up a bit. But, it's the maths.

Wickets tumbled straight after Tea. Ugly of the day award goes to a brainless shot by Rashid. Danced down to the spinner. But wasn't looking to play an aggressive shot. Danced down to defend. Yes, that's right. Didn't get there. Didn't get anything on it. Walked past a straight 'un. Stumped by Miles.

Cor Blimey. Then we needed the maths at Retford. To count the racked up 12 goals. Partly, where’s the enjoyment in that. I understand this was Retford’s first go at an Under 19 team. And, SUFC had some proper scholar professionals out there. Sam Graham had been on the bench for the U23s v Coventry the day before. Now, he turns up at Centre Back here. No proper teamsheet. Was that Nat Crofts & Stephen Mallon out there as well?

Anyway. Scored at will. Fair play to the Retford lads who stuck at it. It’s a Development league.

I got caught on the cusp of the CAMRA Good Pub Guide. My Android App is the 2016 version. Sent me the way of BeerHeadZ in Town Hall Yard. Problem being I stumbled across walked past the Idle Valley Brewery Tap to get there. Very tempted. Very intrigued. No. Concentrate. BeerHeadZ. On Thursday, my Android App updated itself to 2107. Which has the IVBT in it. Cusped.

Anyway. BeerHeadZ is a great place. One room. Small bar frontage. Four on cask. Nothing on keg. I went Elephant School, Aussie Blonde at 4%.

180th ground watching an SUFC XI. Using the bit of grass & marked touchlines method.

373/785
24

Doom. Gloom

Yorkshire 145 all out
v Somerset 390 all out
Yorkshire 57-3
close on Day 2

Tuesday 13 September 2016

County Championship Division 1

Played at Headingley

Twitter @ball_sup

Negative. Pessimistic. Glass half empty. This is what is down for us. etc. That was another difficult day for the Yorkies. I refuse to Post Mortem until games are finished & points are totted. But, you sit there & chat & speculate. Who will replace Gillespie? What would they do if Gale packed it in? Who is getting too old? Who is still too young? Fans the World over.

At Lunch, it was bowl them out for just another hundred before Tea. Bat until close tomorrow. You’ll have enough to have a full go at them on Day 4 as they chase 250 or so.

But. Reality bites. They had a lead of 245. And, Yorkshire wobbling at 37-3 in 16 overs. Lehmann then in trouble of all sorts. Situation looked dire. Is dire.

Little energy in the field. Flat. Batsmen rabbits in headlights. Hope not, but slow death.

Tin of Fourpure, Pils Lager at 4.7%

371/784

Brainless shot

Yorkshire 145 all out
v Somerset 107-1
close on Day 1

Monday 12 September 2016

County Championship Division 1

Played at Headingley

Twitter @ball_sup

Gillespie/Gale Gunslinger Gauge - tops out at FOUR. Ballance, Brooks, Hodd & Lehmann.

You can't lose the Championship in a single day. But, there will be a single day when you can no longer win it. You write the analysis at the end. Wrap up when it's wrapped up.

Those fellas out there aren't brainless. But, sometimes they'll play brainless shots. Jake Lehmann, that's you. Last over before Lunch. They'd already rattled us to 39 for three inside 18 overs. He's lasted 54 minutes. Weathered a storm. Got out of it by playing some aggressive perfectly timed drives. Then he hoiks it. The ZummerSetarian was under it an age. Gone for 31.

It just looked ugly & brainless. Admittedly, it looked like Somerset bowled very well. The season will grind on. Chickens will be counted. Today, it looks a long way to get back in this one.

I'm a sucker for Sorachi. Cloudwater, Sorachi, Session IPA on cask at 4.3%. Bags of flavour. Quite dry in the mouth. Hay.

370/783

Make him play

Somerset 562-7
v Yorkshire 311 all out
and 141-6 following on
Match Drawn

Wednesday 18 May 2016

County Championship Division 1

Played at Taunton

Twitter @ball_sup

(What an epic getting back to Sheffield)

Well. Yorkshire did what they had to do. A bit of weather around complicated things. It's an odd dynamic isn't it? Essentially, Yorkshire were very unlikely to churn enough runs to make Somerset bat again. So, you take runs out of the equation. And, it really is about survival.

Lees batted for over 2 hours. Faced nearly 100 balls. For 11. Fella has had a little pop at me. He's done the sarcasm when Alex (eventually) got to double figures. I explained Somerset’s job is to get him out. “He's not playing shots”. Somerset’s job is to make him play. “When he plays, he plays defensive shots”. Somerset’s job is to set the game up so it's worth his while playing attacking shots. I dug him out by saying how pleased I was to be able to explain the game to him on his first visit. He wasn't happy.

But. Inevitably. You have watchful batsmen. In there for ages. Not many on the tins. And, they get out. Rhodes & Ballance, both over the hour. Both gone for 18 each.

The best summary is Draw. They were second best. But they got it done.

A can of Harbour Brewing Co, Session IPA at 4.3%.

319/666

County Room beers

Somerset 562-7
v Yorkshire 306-9
close on Day 3

Tuesday 17 May 2016

County Championship Division 1

Played at Taunton

Twitter @ball_sup

We've done a County Room day in the Colin Atkinson Pavilion. Another ground. Another brewery. St Austell have the franchise down here in Taunton. And, not a bad effort all round.

Exmoor Ale at 3.8% had already been and gone on cask on Days 1/2. That left me with;

St Austell, Spring Fever on cask at 4.1%.
St Austell, Tribute (natch) on cask at 4.2%.

And, beer of the day. A new one on me. St Austell, Mena Dhu (Stout) on keg at 4.5%. Served in a branded, handled glass. Black. Lots of liquorice. Giving way to toasted wholemeal. Some bitterness in the finish. Maybe the liquorice comes again. All in all, surprised me a bit.

(There was also St Austell, Korev, craft lager on keg).

Looked brainless at times from Yorkshire out there. Epitomised by Rashid run out on nought after 3 balls. To make it 232-6. Only one of THREE wickets to fall on 232. We've gone from 226-4 to to 237-9. Difficult to see where you can go with that. Well. We went to 306-9 at the close (Patterson, Brooks). Pushing us past the points at 250 & 300. Those last two survived 18.4 Overs.

Rhodes & Ballance looked rooted. Woeful footwork. Hodd’s gone clean bowled in 3. Got to be some shaping up somewhere. The Test wallahs are off. The bowling wallahs are injured. Shape up.

Something to do to save it the morrow.

318/665

Wrong way round

Somerset 562-7
v Yorkshire 127-1
close on Day 2

Monday 16 May 2016

County Championship Division 1

Played at Taunton

Twitter @ball_sup

Brooks & Rashid both went for Bucket Hundreds. Topside 560 creates ridiculous pressure. 400 even to save the Follow On. I will say. That from there. A century opening stand is what was ordered. And, you'd have taken 127-1 at the declaration.

Odd beer experience in The Ring Of Bells. Slightly uninspiring. Four handpulls, but one turned around. No food on Monday nights. Two craft keg. But one was the widely available Shipyard Pale. And, here's the oddity. Mrs Ball Sup & I are convinced the kegs were connected the wrong way round. The one out of the Wild Beer, Epic Saison (5%) keg, tasted distinctly like an American Pale. The one out of the Shipyard keg, was dry & grassy. With a hint of sourness. You know. Just like a Saison.

So, I'm not guaranteeing what I had.

But, in the Perkin Warbick I had a superb pint of Exmoor, XBA on cask at 4.8%.

317/664

Not quite at it

Somerset 342-4
v Yorkshire
close on Day 1

Sunday 15 May 2016

County Championship Division 1

Played at Taunton

Twitter @ball_sup

Gillespie/Gale Gunslinger Gauge - hovers at THREE. Ballance, Brooks & Hodd.

Somerset’s day there. But, as always, a lot of cricket still to be played. Trescothick & Rogers both contriving to get out in the 90s. Tom Abell first out for 8 at 30-1. With Patto rearranging the carpentry. But, all the other dismissed batsmen, & one not outer, got to 50 or more.

It looked like a good few beat the bat early doors. Patto had roughly 10 overs for 10 runs at one stage. But, Somerset have weathered it & come back strong.

There were chances here & there. Yorkshire weren't undisciplined. But, neither were they on top of it. Ragged in parts, at times. There's an irrational part of me. That thinks. They've been so dominant in recent years. That they lose concentration a bit when things don't click their way. Probably a little unfair.

My first look at the new Somerset Pavilion. Nice set up. All comers seating at the bottom. Some exclusive balcony above. Then Members seating & a neat mooch about terrace at the top.

Great view up the top. But, in the shade, and exposed to the wind nearly the whole day.

365 day use at the bottom. With a welcoming bistro bar. Open for city centre plodders & worker bees on non-cricket days. St Austell, Tribute on cask in there.

We held the post mortem in the Wetherspoons, The Perkin Warbeck. Overall, a thumbs up. But, not without its issues. A great big cavernous place (tick). Nice range of cask (tick). Oddly, beers off. Carling. Fosters. Shipyard Pale (cross). Didn't particularly impact on me. But, I always think. Hmmmm. Symptomatic.

I had a lovely, refreshing Dark Star, Hophead on cask at 3.8%.

316/663

Find a way ...

Yorkshire 438 all out
v Somerset 485 all out
Yorkshire 419 all out
Somerset 6-1
Match Drawn

Wednesday 27 May 2015

Twitter @ball_sup

Quantock Brewery, Wills Neck on cask at 4.3%. (In the Ring Of Bells). Tastes better than it looks. Flat as a fart. Got a sort of tart, herby bitterness. Feels nice and coating in the mouth. Malty, but without much sweetness.

Exeter Brewery, Avocet on cask at 3.9%. Golden, with a tight white head. Pleasant & refreshing. Sort of quietly well balanced. Nothing dominates & nothing dominant. Just all gently in sync. Hint of sweetness in the mouth. Nice beer.

Great, long, long rearguard action by Yorkshire to get to the draw. Bairstow & Rashid set off. Only Bairstow falling before Lunch. Rashid was 8th out for 99. He'll be pissed off, but he was superb. The final four have all gone past 20.

Hands up. Even at the start today, I thought they'd lose. I certainly did when they were five down yesterday. As is becoming usual in Div1, best part of 450 will NOT let you dominate the game.

145/309

A lead is a lead

Yorkshire 438 all out
v Somerset 485 all out
Yorkshire 171-5
close on Day 3 at Taunton

Tuesday 26 May 2015

Twitter @ball_sup

So, arrest me. I'm an advocate for smuggling interesting bottles of Beer into County Cricket. Most Counties are happy for you to bring beer into the ground. Lots stipulate "cans only, no glass bottles". Virtually none check.

To whom it may concern. There is a great Wine Merchants around the corner from The County Ground, Taunton. P M Wine Cellars, 19 Lower Middle St. They even have perimeter advertising round the Boundary. Wine aplenty. And bottlejobs (in the fridge) from North Curry Brewery & Kubla Brewery. "What, just two?". Yes mate. Looked like 3 from one & 4 from the other. I only drink one bottle a day. Ample.

A bottle of Kubla Abora at 5.5%. From a place called Lydeard St Lawrence. Full on messed around with beer. Got Rooibos & Sweet Fennel in it. Great beer mind. Malts look straight down the line pale. Not much sweetness. Nice lingering bitterness. Sort of earthy rather than fruity. Maybe some orange in there in the background.

Momentum swing this morning. The Overtons have added a swashes buckled 76 for the last wicket. Jamie eventually out for 50 off 19. That put Somerset in a lead is a lead territory. And they've capitalised. Yorkshire 117-5 at one stage.

It's all on Bairstow & Rashid now.

144/308

Ring Of Bells

Yorkshire 438 all out
v Somerset 309-4
close on Day 2 at Taunton

Monday 25 May 2015

Twitter @ball_sup

Not an easy day for Yorkshire. With the bat, Somerset have recovered well. Not many chances created. Both sides nibbling away. Plunkett hit the batsmen a few times. But it wasn't a nick, ball flying through the slips day.

What a cricket asset Tim Bresnan is/can become for Yorkshire. They need to find the correct set of cotton wool to keep him on the field "for years". This morning, he's gone to a well deserved Century, rushed into the Sheds & come straight out & opened the bowling. He's been carted round the park mind in the final session.

A close of play drink in The Ring Of Bells. 3 handpulls (with another one off) & 2 pukka kegs (Wild Beer & Kubla). Cricket bats & prints on the walls.

I went for Bays Brewery (Torbay) Topsail on cask at 4%. Full on Brown in the glass. Nice and balanced. Quite sweet, but pleasantly so. Mainly because, it develops spicy in the mouth. There is some bitter, but for me spice dominates.

143/307