County Championship: Root took four wickets as Yorkshire beat Somerset

Joe Root played a key role with the ball as Yorkshire produced a remarkable 75-run County Championship Division One victory over Somerset at Taunton.

The visitors managed to add just six runs to their second innings score early in the game, with Jaye Richardson hitting a 122-ball half-century before being caught by Craig Overton, who finished with 4-94 for a total of 371 runs.

It faced a target of 260 to clinch its third championship win in four games on a flat pitch.

They soon slipped to 21-3 and were eventually all out for 184 shortly after tea, Root claiming 4-49 and fellow spinner Dom Bess 4-60 as Josh Thomas top-scored with 57 for the home side.

It meant Yorkshire took 19 points from a game in which they conceded a first-innings lead of 112, and Somerset had to settle for four points as Division One leaders.

The morning session is mainly played under blue skies. But after Overton’s early strike ended Yorkshire’s struggling second innings, the hosts suffered a familiar top-order batting frailty.

Archie Vaughan was bowled for four after a delivery from George Hill fell down the wrong line, who then switched ends to clip Tom Lamonby off stump as he shouldered a ball.

When the former Somerset off-spinner James Rew was caught behind driving near the base, the hosts were in disarray and with 239 still needed, Yorkshire were favourites.

Tom Abel felt no trepidation going into 24 at lunch, which was taken at 57-3, with centurion Thomas unbeaten on 23 in the first innings.

The pair extended their stand to 64 when Abel, on 41, advanced to the base and edged towards Hill at slip to make the score 85-4.

Teenager Thomas Reu walks into the wicket facing the prospect of a couple on his Championship debut. But the 18-year-old soon eased any nerves by getting off the mark with a sweet-timed boundary through cover.

Bess found some outstanding turn to beat the outside edge of Thomas’ bat, but the left-hander survived to make 50 off 140 balls.

Ryu isn’t afraid to take his shot and, when a confident appeal to a reverse sweep short-lay catch early on in the base, the youngster soon showed the quality that made him England Under-19 captain at 17.

The second 50-stand of the innings took 15 overs and, with the sun shining brightly, Somerset looked back in control, but fortunes changed again when Thomas advanced to the base and edged a routine catch at slip.

Now 124 runs were needed with the loss of five wickets and all results were still possible.

Yorkshire were celebrating again six runs later when Reeve, on 30, tried to slash through point with a wide delivery from Root and went to wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow.

Root struck again when Overton flicked a delivery from outside the off-stump straight to short-leg Adam Leith, who took a sharp reaction catch, and Somerset were 167-7 at tea, needing 93 more runs.

With just six added, Will Schmidt departed for 17 on a back-foot shot off Root.

The following delivery was wide but Miguel Pretorius offered a return catch on an ugly swing and bowled base-man Alfie Ogborne to complete Somerset’s demise, leaving skipper Lewis Gregory unbeaten on 22.