35 wickets fell on the pitch inside two days.
The recent County Championship 2025 clash between Somerset and Durham in Taunton saw the home side clinch a five-wicket victory. The match lasted for less than two days as 35 wickets fell in a total of 157.2 overs. Former England captain Ian Botham did not hold back for his criticism of the pitch his former County side served.
🎥 Here's a look at the three wickets to fall this morning 👊#WeAreSomerset #SOMvDUR pic.twitter.com/xsKFzNNaZ2
— Somerset Cricket (@SomersetCCC) July 22, 2025
Craig Overton picked 6 for 23 as Somerset skittled out the visitors for 145 in the first innings in just 30.1 overs. Tom Lammonby was the only batter to register a fifty in the match, scoring 89 to help his side reach 250. The spin duo of Jack Leach (6 for 63) and Archie Vaughan (4 for 85) bowled out Durham for 190 in the second innings. Somerset chased down 86 but lost five wickets.
AUSA-W
–
INDA-W
–
KNK
187/10
BVB
214/6
Bhimavaram Bulls beat Kakinada Kings by 27 runs
AMR
138/10
VSS
139/1
Vijayawada Sunshiners beat Amaravati Royals by 9 wickets
SKA
–
SLK
–
ABF
–
TKR
–
EDR
172/6
PD
113/5
ODW
–
NDS
–
SDSW
73/3
EDRW
58/7
South Delhi Superstarz Women beat East Delhi Riders Women by 15 runs
NDSW
–
CDQW
–
KHTC
117/8
MRSC
142/4
Masroor Sports Club beat 1.Kieler HTC by 25 runs
THCC
56/10
KSV
59/8
KSV Kings beat THCC ROT-GELB Hamburg by 2 wickets
MTV
96/6
MRSC
91/8
MTV Stallions beat Masroor Sports Club by 4 wickets
KSV
137/4
KHTC
142/2
1.Kieler HTC beat KSV Kings by 8 wickets
THCC
129/6
MTV
75/8
THCC ROT-GELB Hamburg beat MTV Stallions by 54 runs
HTBC
–
SCE
–
HTBC
–
VFB
–
SCE
–
SGFD
–
VFB
–
BRCC
–
BRCC
–
SGFD
–
MID
205/4
KENT
279/6
LAN
–
DURH
–
LEI
–
DER
–
HAM
–
NOT
–
ESS
–
GLAM
–
NED-W
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ITA-W
–
IRE-W
–
GER-W
–
BAN
–
IND
–
Match Called off
MUR
–
NWW
–
LLG
–
NK
–
KZK
56/2
NCMI
–
SBSCC
–
CEC-A
–
PCR
–
GUJCC
–
RTZ
–
KUMS
–
GBM
135/3
SML
133/7
Gulbarga Mystics won by 7 wkts
MGD
107/3
HBT
152/7
GBM
–
MYW
–
HBT
–
BNB
–
ROS
114/3
RNC
113/10
Royal Oman Stallions beat Renaissance Challengers by 7 wickets
MUT
–
YSG
156/5
AUS
198/10
SA
296/8
South Africa beat Australia by 98 runs
TRR
–
MAO
–
WEF
–
SOB
–
LOS
–
NOS
–
TRW-W
111/7
MOW-W
113/0
Manchester Originals Women won by 10 wickets
WFW-W
–
SBW-W
–
LSW-W
–
NOS-W
–
AS-A
137/4
PSA
136/9
Adelaide Strikers Academy beat Perth Scorchers Academy by 6 wickets
CHK
206/5
PS
137/8
Chicago Kingsmen beat Pakistan Shaheens by 69 runs
NEP
180/7
HHA
114/10
Nepal beat Hobart Hurricanes Academy by 66 runs
NTS
150/7
BANA
172/4
Bangladesh A won by 22 runs
CHK
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ACOM
–
MS-A
–
PSA
–
NEP
–
MR-A
–
PS
–
AS-A
–
KASS
177/8
KARS
201/3
Kashi Rudras won by 24 runs
MEMA
150/8
LUF
101/3
NOSK
–
GOLS
–
LUF
–
KASS
–
Ian Botham took to the social media platform X/formerly Twitter to express his displeasure with Somerset. The former England all-rounder, who played 176 First Class matches for Somerset, shared the images of the Taunton pitch.
“As an ex Somerset player I find this appalling… at a time when County Cricket is under pressure for relevance as a breeding ground for International players, the club produces this pitch. These are not first class cricket conditions,” posted Botham.
Before a ball is bowled… As an ex Somerset player I find this appalling… at a time when County Cricket is under pressure for relevance as a breeding ground for International
— BeefyBotham (@BeefyBotham) July 23, 2025
Players and Somerset members have apparently voted for the status quo, the club produces this pitch.… pic.twitter.com/qAU0CJbPlf
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Botham went on to say that it is not surprising the England managing director Rob Key and Ben Stokes aren’t particularly high on domestic performances. The England management, in recent times, has focused less on numbers and more on other attributes. For instance, their selections of Tom Hartley and Shoaib Bashir for the India tour last year were based on the high release point.
Botham also added that Somerset do not need to produce pitches that reduce the game to a farce.
“I am not surprised that Rob and Ben unfortunately have to disregard county performances in assessing players for Test quality appearances. Somerset do not need to do this… reduces the game to a farce,” he added.
Durham bowling coach Graham Onions had similar thoughts. He said there was excessive turn off the pitch for the whole game and such conditions are not good for the County Championship.
Somerset coach Jason Kerr, however, did not agree with Botham and Onions, and instead called it an incredible pitch. He stated that they had to prepare a used pitch due to the amount of cricket played in Taunton this year.
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