Wharton and Root's Heroics Help Yorkshire Fight Back at Somerset in 2026

Yorkshire's James Wharton and Joe Root lead a resilient batting display to keep their team in the match against Somerset.

Yorkshire's Wharton and Root Keep Their Team in the Match James Wharton scored an impressive 92 for Yorkshire against Somerset at the Cooper Associates County Ground in Taunton. Wharton's top-scoring knock, combined with Joe Root's 64, helped Yorkshire advance their second innings score from an overnight total of 13-0 to 365-9. Root contributed 64, while Jhye Richardson played a crucial role with a 48 not out batting at number 10. ## Somerset Faces an Incredibly Benign Pitch The Cooper Associates County Ground pitch has become increasingly unresponsive, offering little assistance to the Somerset bowlers. Despite the benign conditions, Somerset will still consider themselves favorites to secure a third Championship victory in their first four games. Their chances were boosted by the early wickets of Fin Bean and Adam Lyth, but they failed to capitalize on the momentum. ## Root Survives a Few Close Calls Joe Root showed remarkable resilience in the face of Somerset's bowling attack. He survived a huge lbw shout from Lewis Gregory's delivery on two and, having added 10, edged Migael Pretorius just short of Overton at second slip. The introduction of Archie Vaughan's off-spin brought a change in tactics, and Root responded with a reverse swept four that established a half-century stand with Wharton. ## Wharton and Root's Partnership Brings Yorkshire Ahead By lunch, the Yorkshire duo had taken their team 28 runs ahead, with the total standing at 140-2. Root reached a 79-ball fifty soon after the interval, and Wharton followed to the same landmark off 99 deliveries. Their partnership was a major surprise when, with the score advanced to 166-2, Root failed to connect with a drive off a full-length ball from Overton, who celebrated extravagantly when the stumps were disturbed. ## Yorkshire's Wicket Losses Limit Their Lead At 209-3 off 50 overs, the umpires sanctioned a ball change and three wickets fell for the addition of only 17 runs. Jonny Bairstow top-edged a catch to third-man off Pretorius, and Matthew Revis was caught behind for a single. When Wharton's impressive knock came to an end, edging Alfie Ogborne to Gregory at first slip having hit 12 boundaries, Yorkshire were 226-6 and only 114 in front. ## George Hill and Dom Bess Shore Up Yorkshire's Total George Hill played well for his 31, but another ball change after 70.2 overs worked for Somerset again as he edged Gregory to Overton at second slip to make it 273-7. The second new ball was taken at 294-8, and Yorkshire continued to battle. Former Somerset player Dom Bess survived two painful blows to contribute a valuable 40, adding 51 for the ninth wicket with Richardson before skying a sweep off Vaughan and being caught at deep mid-wicket. ## Final Ball Changes and Bad Light Bring an Early Close The second new ball was taken at 294-8, and Yorkshire kept battling. Richardson then calmly farmed the strike with last man Jack White before yet another ball change just 23 overs after the second new one had been taken. By the time the floodlights had to be turned off at 7pm due to council regulations and bad light ended play two balls early, the pair had added a further 28 runs to compound a frustrating day for Somerset.