Jamie Overton is reaching his peak but don't forget Dan Worrall

SAM DALLING AT TAUNTON: Full of fire, hostility and delicious deliveries on his Somerset return, Jamie Overton was ticking - he will not be too far back in England selectors' minds - and he was more than ably supported by the unsung Worrall

It was the moment Mum and Dad would have been dreading. The Overton twins have faced each other before but on this, their first Taunton battle, the temperature rose.

Jamie’s first delivery to his twin in a competitive fixture was a tester that Craig kept out, his second was a vicious bouncer. Craig took on the hook but the twang of leather on metal filled the air. Down Craig went and hush descended.

Jamie steered clear as first Surrey players, and then the Somerset medical staff attended to Craig. He was on 20 at that point but already batting in pain having had his knuckles wrapped by Dan Worrall. Fortunately, he was soon to his feet but departed for a concussion check.

Not finished there, Jamie dropped a short one at Josh Davey. Evasive action proved unsuccessful and Davey was struck on the stem guard. His rise to his feet was slower, and he departed.

That brought a few minutes of confusion. Somerset were eight down, and the innings was potentially finished. Out walked Craig though, the 2,000 strong crowd cheering wildly (well, it’s all relative). After some bravado arm swinging, he did well to evade the rapid bumper that was offered up on his return. As if there was any doubt, brotherly love - of which there is plenty - remained shelved.

^{Craig Overton was struck by a bouncer from his brother [Harry Trump/Getty Images]}

"I don't want to hit people in the head," said Jamie. "But it's part and parcel of being a fast bowler - you might have to do it every now and again."

"I didn't really want to hit Craig, but let's just say he didn't play it very well," he added with a grin. "I knew he was fine straight away. I went up to him and he said he was absolutely fine. It felt a little bit weird bowling at him for the first time - I was a little bit nervous."

Full of fire, hostility and delicious deliveries on his Somerset return, Jamie was ticking. He is enjoying a fine season for Surrey, and will not be too far back in England selectors’ minds. Had his 2021 not been so indifferent, Jamie may well have been in contention for the current New Zealand series.

The feeling is that Jamie has matured, and is perhaps peaking. There is little of the tittle-tattle with batters these days, there is more internal reflection and his pace was maintained for each of his three spells. The last was the quickest – by that point the early swing had disappeared so a different approach was required. 

Surrey’s bowling coach Azhar Mahmood, a winter appointment, worked with Jamie on shortening his run-up. The change has brought an economy of power, of effort and, seemingly, of runs conceded.

Jamie finished with 3 for 34; Somerset finished 180. Jamie’s first was Tom Abell, who made 200 runs in the reverse fixture (150 & 53). This time on one the Somerset skipper slashed a short wide one straight at Cameron Steel at point. Abell’s frustration was visible: it was arguably Jamie’s worst delivery of the day.

He then ought to have Tom Banton on five but Worrall shelled at slip. Naturally, the next ball brought four, although Banton shouldered arms to Gus Atkinson soon after.

Lewis Goldsworthy was then cat-like in his avoidance of falling victim to Jamie. A trio of consecutive balls brought an outside edge that fell short of first slip, a fuller delivery that hooped and Goldsworthy somehow kept out (all three slips ended up comically on the floor having anticipated a nick) and a leading edge that again dropped before the slips.

After a barrage of bouncers at Lewis Gregory, Jamie brought his length back a little. Gregory poked, and Jamie Smith held on. Post lunch Steve Davies clipped ten off an Jamie over. Out came a well-directed short ball (what else) that Davies fended to Worrall off the bat shoulder.

Jamie was more than ably supported by Worrall. Amongst all the stellar names on the Surrey staff, he gets little airtime. But if Surrey are to claim the Championship pennant, expect his influence to be huge.

His opening spell was magnificent, a half dozen overs, balls zipping this way, that way and, on one occasion, into Tom Lammonby’s pads.  Only three runs came off that stint, and by lunch Worrall had 1 for 7 off 10.

Roelof van der Merwe was bowled post-lunch and Goldsworthy, having played a stoic hand, prodded at a back-of-a-length ball from Worrall and nicked behind. 11.1 overs 2 for 7.

^{Jamie Overton bowling for Surrey [Harry Trump/Getty Images]}

An Australian one-day international, Worrall’s stint at Gloucestershire as an overseas was ended over the winter, a three-year Surrey deal as a local penned (Irish mother, English father). He made the decision to move his young family here with an eye on both the present and future.

He has one of the widest run-ups on the circuit, meandering in from a strip or two along. That came about due needing to avoid a tree in his garden, although in fairness the tree was there first. 

36 first-class wickets in 12-months despite several injuries had Jason Gillespie and Mitchell Johnson suggesting Worrall’s Ashes worthiness in 2019. Then, cruelly, came a diagnosis that hampers so many quicks: the stress fracture. It threatened his career but thankfully was treated.

For Somerset, it was a case of familiar batting failings. No.9 (Craig Overton) and No.10 (Davey) top-scored with 29 and 25 respectively. No.12, by the way, was Kasey Aldridge, a concussion sub who was allowed to bat. James Hildreth missed a home County Championship match for the first time since 2009.

The innings concluded when Aldridge became Atkinson’s (3 for 40) third, who was impressive and also got Craig. Jordan Clark, who has been Surrey’s standout bowler this season, struggled for a little rhythm and seemed to be suffering with some shoulder stiffness. He did though get Ben Green early in the day.

Even with a lengthy absentee list - think Ben Foakes, Ollie Pope, Reece Topley, Sam Curran - this Surrey side is a fine outfit.

Ryan Patel fell cheaply to Peter Siddle but Rory Burns (35) and Hashim Amla (19) remain unbeaten. That said, Aldridge should have had a tale to spin about dismissing Amla except Craig failed to hold on. He was on 12 then; tomorrow will tell how costly that drop will be.

Alec Stewart enjoyed the evening session form the top deck of the Marcus Trescothick Stand, and he will have been delighted with a good day's work. Surrey are strongly place to extend both their lead at the top of the division, and their unbeaten run in all formats.