NEW DELHI:
Archie Vaughan, the 18-year-old son of former England captain Michael Vaughan, showcased his exceptional talent by claiming 11 wickets to propel Somerset to a remarkable victory over Surrey in the County Championship on Thursday. In just his second match at this level, Vaughan delivered an impressive performance as an off-spinner, taking 5 wickets for 38 runs in a marathon spell of 32 overs. This effort helped dismiss Surrey for a mere 109 runs while chasing a target of 221.
Somerset triumphed by a margin of 111 runs at Taunton, reigniting the competition for the prestigious County Championship title in English cricket. The match concluded dramatically with only minutes left on the final day; Somerset strategically positioned nine fielders around their tailender to secure their win.
In addition to his bowling prowess, Vaughan also contributed with the bat, scoring 44 runs during Somerset’s first innings. His overall match figures stood at an impressive 11 wickets for 140 runs after previously taking six wickets for 102 runs against Surrey’s first innings total of 321.
Jack Leach, another key player and left-arm spinner from England, played a vital role as well by claiming five wickets for just 37 runs across his own spell of bowling lasting over seven overs. A pivotal moment in the game was Surrey’s dramatic middle-order collapse; they went from a solid position at 95-3 to losing their last seven batsmen for only an additional14 runs—an astonishing turnaround that included Vaughan dismissing Bangladesh cricket star Shakib Al Hasan without scoring.
This victory has propelled Somerset within striking distance of First Division leaders Surrey—now just eight points behind them—as they pursue their third consecutive championship title with two matches still remaining in the season.
Graduated from University of Denver, Residing in Dallas, Texas. Political observer and a Conservative. Follow on Twitter for more.
