SOMERSET played their first Second XI Championship match of 2026 when they hosted Gloucestershire at Taunton Vale Sports Club.

The game ended in a high scoring draw, but during the four day game there were some impressive performances from some of the young players who were involved.

After being put in, Somerset openers Savin Perera and Daniyal Khan, both triallists who had impressed playing against the Second XI earlier in the season for the South Asian Cricket Academy, started well and took the score onto 58 by lunch.

After the break, Khan fell for 46 but Perera and Archie Vaughan took Somerset to three figures in the 24th over. However on 29 the latter was dismissed by Dexter Trego (youngest son of Peter Trego)

By tea the score had advanced to 180 for two and the 200 came after 50 overs shortly before Kian Roberts reached his half century from 64 balls.

Perera’s 100 came from 211 balls but he was dismissed for 113, which included nine 4s, making Somerset 310 for four.

Theo Lamey added 69 from 98 balls and by the close of play Somerset had reached 371 for seven.

Oscar Coleman, who began the day on 32 not out, went on to make an excellent 97 from 88 deliveries, which included 10 fours and five 6s as Somerset were eventually dismissed for 478, Trego was the pick of the bowlers with 4 for 60

When Gloucestershire batted Josh Shaw claimed Dunne lbw with the total on 19, but then a second wicket stand took them to 168 before Jack Leach removed Boorman for 66, courtesy of a catch by Oscar Coleman. Two runs later 18 year old Coleman dismissed Ahmed, caught and bowled for 89.

Coleman also accounted for Hishaam Khan (2) as the visitors slipped to 170 for four.

In the 39th over, JT Langridge bowled Tom Cheater for 18 at 193 for five which brought about the tea interval.

Four further wickets fell in the final session but Trego (72) shared a 51-run partnership for the seventh wicket with Rishan Herath (47) and a 91-run stand for the eighth wicket with James Matravers (49).

Gloucestershire began the third day on 385 for nine and added a further two runs before Josh Shaw claimed the final wicket

Rain interruptions through the morning saw the home side reach 15 without loss at lunch from 3.3 overs. After an extended lunch due to the weather, Daniyal Khan fell for 10 with 28 runs on the board.

Vaughan and Savin Perera had advanced the score to 52 when further rain forced the players from the field once more.

Perera went on to make 99 off 149 balls and shared half century partnerships with Vaughan (30), Kian Roberts (31) and Josh Eckland. Somerset eventually declared on 318 for eight.

Chasing 410 for victory Gloucestershire reached 277 for eight before the match ended in a draw. JT Langridge was the pick of the second innings bowlers, taking 3 for 55 from his 17 overs, four of which were maidens.