County Championship - Division One
Somerset 324 & 202 beat Essex 191 & 290 by 45 runs

JACK Leach kept Somerset’s County Championship title dreams alive by spinning his side to victory in an absorbing clash in Taunton.

Leach took career-best figures of 8-85 from 48 overs in the visitors’ second innings as, having had home nerves frayed at 171-1, the pursuit of 336 proved just beyond the defending champions.

The match was in the balance throughout the final day, which began with Essex on 147-1 with both Nick Browne and Tom Westley going well.

The pair took their stand to 113 when a quickfire double breakthrough saw both dismissed with the score on 171, Browne (86) top edging a sweep off Leach before Westley (56) was trapped in front by Jamie Overton.

Dan Lawrence and Essex skipper Ryan ten Doeschate steadied the ship, and again it took the intervention of Leach - who bowled unchanged from the River End throughout the morning session - to break the stand, as he clean bowled Lawrence for 21 with the final ball before lunch to leave the score 225-4 at the interval.

Ravi Bopara arrived at the crease despite suffering from illness, and he and ten Doeschate took the runs required below three figures.

Leach claimed the key scalp of ten Doeschate, who made exactly 50 before his middle stump was pegged back by a beauty which beat his lunging forward defensive stroke, and the spinner then took his fifth scalp by holding on to a return catch from Adam Wheater’s leading edge.

Having battled hard for his 27, Bopara was distraught to drag a Leach delivery on to his stumps, and Dom Bess - who had been below-par - entered the fray as Simon Harmer was caught by Marcus Trescothick at short leg.

Leach left Somerset one wicket away when Peter Siddle had an ill-advised slog across the line and edged to Jamie Overton at slip, and fittingly it was the spinner who wrapped up the victory by trapping Jamie Porter in front.

Leach, whose figures are the best by any Division One bowler this season, said: “It is massive for the team - we want wins on the board to keep the pressure on Surrey.

“To contribute like that is very pleasing. I knew I had to be patient and in the end I got my rewards.

“It has been frustrating this season but the setbacks make these sort of feelings all the sweeter. 

“It’s just great to be back playing cricket and helping the side win.”

Captain Tom Abell added: “Leachy was phenomenal today and I thought as a team we were outstanding.

“This is a special team to be a part of right now and that was an incredible game of cricket.”