County Championship 2025

Essex: 206 and 163/4 (52.3 Overs)

Somerset: 145/10

Essex lead by 224 runs

The season of summer is approaching England. Under a clear blue sky, carpets like soft green grass fields; an ideal day for cricket. 

County championship is underway in England; teams packed with international and underrated talents are showing their skills. When the cover was removed from County Ground's 22-yard surface, bowlers, especially field-first teams' pacers, were pumped after seeing a green top wicket. The wicket is looking so green from the stand that it is difficult to differentiate the pitch and the outfield— a heavenly view for pace bowlers.

The Somerset vs. Essex County Championship match is underway in Taunton, on the green topsoil. As the match progressed, spinners, along with pacers, also started to get help from the wicket. So batters mostly had to hold on to copybook basics and their techniques.

Essex is leading the race

Batted first, Essex managed to score 206, a good total considering the condition. 20-year-old all-rounder Noah Thain was the leading run scorer with 41 against 112 balls. Experienced spinner Jack Leach proved most effective for Somerset in the first innings with 3 scalps after bowling 30 overs, with an economy rate of 1.17.

Watch the green top wicket here

The pitch for Somerset Vs Essex match. pic.twitter.com/ey2p0bA6nD

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) May 4, 2025

Somerset, when out for batting, was mostly troubled by the off-break bowler Simon Harmer, who took 4 wickets. Sam Cook, recently named to the England Test side, claimed a brace. At the end of day 2, Essex, in a commanding position, escalated their lead by 224 runs. Jordan Cox, another Essex player with Cook, has made his way into the Test squad and remained on the pitch for an unbeaten 61.