Frizzell County Championship

Yorkshire versus Somerset

At Headingley, Leeds

Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
3, 4, 5 and 6 September 2024

By Roy D Wilkinson


Of the 15 County Championship matches Somerset have so far played at Headingley they have won only two.

These two wins were separated by exactly one-hundred years - in 1901 and 2001.

Of the others, Yorkshire have won nine and four have been drawn.

The 1901 match is, of course, remembered for the 630 Somerset scored in their second innings after being all out for just 87 in their first! The Somerset first innings had crumbled before George Hirst, Wilfred Rhodes and Schofield Haigh, Yorkshire also found great difficulty in scoring and were soon 55 for 5, but Hirst, Lord Hawke, Haigh and Rhodes took the total to a seemingly comfortable 325 - a lead of 238 - at the end of the first day. A day in which 412 runs were scored, 103 overs were bowled and 20 wickets fell.

On day two Lionel Palairet and Len Braund both scored centuries before lunch, Braund making 107 before being dismissed just before the interval. Palairet, 112* at lunch, went on the make 173, Francis Philips scored 122 and Somerset were eventually all out for that record-breaking 630. On the third day Yorkshire were soon despatched for a modest 113 to leave Somerset improbable winners by 279 runs.

One hundred years later Somerset won again, this time by 161 runs with Andy Caddick taking 10 for 173 in the match - the first ten-wicket match return for Somerset against Yorkshire since Ernest Robson (born in Chapel Allerton) took 10 for 103 at Dewsbury in 1912.

Apart from theses two wins, Somerset have fared rather poorly at Headingley, a ground they did not visit from 1911 to 1947. Of the nine Yorkshire wins, four have been by an innings, one by 10 wickets, one by 9 wickets and one by 215 runs.

The 1957 match was all over at just after 7.00pm on the second day. Johnny Wardle, Ken Taylor, Raymond Illingworth and Fred Trueman (with the bat) were the players to seal Yorkshire’s win by an innings and 48 runs. Wardle took 7 for 34 and 4 for 36, Taylor gave the Yorkshire innings a bright start with 68 but it was Illingworth and Trueman who gave scope for the innings win with an eighth wicket partnership of 116. Illingworth made 97 and Trueman 63 to lead Yorkshire to 296 for 9 declared. Wardle spun his magic for the second time in the match and Illingworth finished off Somerset with a spell of 6 overs, 4 maidens, 7 runs and 3 wickets. Somerset had managed only 144 and 104.

Another of Yorkshire’s convincing wins came in 1998 when the margin was 215 runs. Matthew Wood, on his Championship debut, made 52 and added 130 for third wicket with David Byas (101). Batting at number nine, Darren Gough hit a bright 89 to see Yorkshire to 383. The pace attack of Gough, Chris Silverwood, Paul Hutchison and Craig White had Somerset first in trouble and then all out for 237. Byas declared the second Yorkshire innings at 204 for 9 leaving Somerset 351 to win. Again it was the aforementioned pace attack that did the damage with White leading the way with 4 for 13 off 12.2 overs. Somerset never recovered from 8 for 3 and were dismissed for 135.

Yorkshire and Somerset have met in the County Championship 152 times since 1891, with Yorkshire winning 84, Somerset 17 and 51 have been drawn.

Highest totals:
By Yorkshire 598 for 5 dec at Bath in 2001
By Somerset 630 at Leeds in 1901

Lowest totals:
By Yorkshire 73 at Leeds in 1895
By Somerset 35 at Bath in 1898

Highest individual score:
For Yorkshire 213 by H Sutcliffe at Dewsbury in 1924
For Somerset 221 by M Burns at Bath in 2001

Best bowling in an innings:
For Yorkshire 10 for 35 by A Drake at Weston-super-Mare in 1914
For Somerset 9 for 41 by L C Braund at Sheffield in 1902

Best bowling in a match:
For Yorkshire 15 for 50 by R Peel at Leeds in 1895
For Somerset 15 for 71 by L C Braund at Sheffield in 1902