Will Jacks and Tom Latham show their class to tip match in Surrey's favour

SAM DALLING AT TAUNTON: They had joined forces on Tuesday night with the score 95 for 4, and the game in the balance. On Wednesday, Surrey asserted their dominance, both on the match and the County Championship more widely

Taunton (day two of four): Somerset 170, Surrey 368 - Somerset trail by 198 runs with 10 second-innings wickets in hand

Two 99s, please. No, not an ice-cream order from the optimistic van adjacent to Taunton's Marcus Trescothick Pavilion, but the bittersweet offerings of Will Jacks and Tom Latham. Each felt the gory glory of falling one shy of a century. Each had the whippy but missed out on the flake. Each deserved to reach the milestone but then again, that is not how life works, is it?

Amongst a gloom that barely lifted from the surrounding hills, those brave enough to attend huddled together for warmth. Until shortly after 3pm, the floodlights provided enough illumination for Surrey to assert their dominance. On this match yes, but on the County Championship more widely, too.

There was a sheen to them, the glisten of current champions enmeshed with the sparkle of champions to be. The trophy is not theirs yet, far from it in fact - Essex are chasing hard and will most likely pick up victory at Hampshire. But perform anywhere near their best - anywhere near the levels they have shown both here and last week at Lord's - and there will be little chance of Surrey being caught.

By the time the clouds burst at tea, their first innings lead was 198. Mercifully for Somerset they were not required to bat. Bowling conditions were favourable and a 44-over evening session would have been testing. Two days, despite a little inclement weather around, should still be enough for Surrey. It will be an impressive rearguard from Somerset to save this match.

^{Will Jacks provided another demonstration of his talents [Harry Trump/Getty Images]}

For Surrey, before the rain came, it had been a day of figures clad in Chelsea blue (thanks Alec Stewart) buzzing around, steps all springy. It had been a day of batting coach Jim Troughton's shoulders being worked to within an inch of slingy failure in the indoor school. And it had been a day of a beaming Ben Foakes - the world's best wicketkeeper in the eyes of most - scuttling across the ground to fetch his teammates their coffee. Your reporter is pleased to confirm not a drop was spilled. Surrey were not just content, but happy.

And quite right, too. Latham and Jacks both showed their class in a partnership worth 123 for the fifth wicket. They had joined forces on Tuesday night with the score 95 for 4, and the game in the balance. How firmly the scales were soon tipped.

As a score, 99 is cricket's equivalent of a Vodka Redbull on an evening out. The energy, the enthusiasm of a caffeinated, chemical-fuelled euphoria of runs made, tempered by the heart-slowing solitary run left out there. A juxtaposition of conflicting emotions that leads to much self-imposed introspection.

Latham had made a chunk of his score on the opening day. He is ruthless behind square, deft touch following deft touch. And he left well against district and international teammate Matt Henry - Somerset's real bright spot with 6 for 80.  This was what those of a certain vintage might label 'proper cricket'. 

Latham's name is one most cricket fans will know, but few quite appreciate to the level they really should. This is a man with 74 Test caps, an average north of 41, and potentially New Zealand's leader at the upcoming 50-over World Cup. He should be held in high regard. Surrey tend to sign well in the overseas market (thanks again, Alec Stewart), and Latham is no exception.

In previous weeks, Latham has made contributions (a pair of 50s) without properly making his mark - here he has done just that. Latham's downfall came through a rare and momentary lapse in concentration. A ten-minute shower had forced the players off around midday, and he attempted to cut the first ball back from too close to the body. At the third juggle, Craig Overton held the catch.

^{Jamie Overton broke a window [Harry Trump/Getty Images]}

Jacks is a cricketer who imposes himself on matches. He may well consider himself unlucky not to have been involved in the current Ashes, although that is another argument for another day. Once England work out how best to use Jacks though, he could easily - and quickly - become an unstoppable force.

A top-three batting spot might be his best route forward. It is from there that he made a sprightly unbeaten 45 in a 'beat the rain' victory-securing knock against Middlesex last Saturday. Here, batting at No.6, he peppered the covers constantly. But it was a rare stray to the on-side that demonstrated his authority. Henry is arguably the stand-out bowler in county cricket right now, but when he dropped a tad short, Jacks reacted dismissively to pull him for six. He fell to Ben Green, finding Tom Abell's hands at backward point.

Little went right for Somerset. Overton beat the outside edge for fun either side of dropping twin brother Jamie at slip. Jamie then smashed a window with a bludgeoned six off Shoaib Bashir.

And Spencer Bishop, Somerset's long-serving media and community executive, was presented with a photo of the birthday cake he might have had. Sadly a local supermarket stoically refused to print the design his colleagues custom made, citing copyright and a potential four-figure fine. Instead, he had to settle for the generic offering, as delicious as it was lacking in originality. 

Shortly after its consumption, one member of the press returned to the commentary box. "Oh, that's promising," he declared with glee at the sight of white sheeting being dragged onto grass. That was the type of day it was for Somerset.