SOMERSET dominated for much of their opening Division One Rothesay County Championship fixture against Worcestershire at Taunton but, at the end of the match during which several records were set, they had to settle for a draw.

On the opening day after being put in, the visitors looked like they were setting a sizeable total and had reached 102 /1 in the 28th over when Kasey Aldridge came on and claimed 5/36 from eight overs as Worcestershire were bowled out for 154.

Somerset lost Archie Vaughan, Tom Lammonby and Sean Dickson and slipped to 39 for three before Tom Abell was joined by Tom Banton. Form this point on Somerset were in command as the Toms added 101 for the fourth wicket before Abell was out for 52.

Thomas Rew joined his fellow former King’s College student and together they added 371 in a new record fifth wicket partnership, when Rew perished for 152 which came off 275 balls.

Banton stayed at the crease, batting sensibly and showing no signs of flagging during his marathon innings. When he brought up his triple century he became only the eighth player to do so for the county and went onto pass the innings’ of James Hildreth, Graeme Smith, Harold Gimblett, Jimmy Cook ,Viv Richards and finally by the end of day two Banton had reached 344, surpassing Justin Langer’s 342 scored at Surrey in 2006.

On the third morning Banton batted on until he was eventually out for 371 which came off 403 balls after a stay of eight hours and 41 minutes, at which point Somerset declared on 670 for seven.

Batting for a second time facing a huge deficit of 516 Worcestershire seemed to be facing an uphill struggle to survive. However survive they did and despite the best efforts of the Somerset bowling attack they managed to cling on for almost two days, ending their innings on 485 /9, of which skipper Brett D’Oliveira made 121, former Somerset player Adam Hose hit 82 and Matthew Waite remained unbeaten on 87 from 319 ball, occupying the crease for five and three quarter hours.

This was a game Somerset will feel they should have won, but were not helped by a wicket that became flatter as the game progressed. After the match, Lewis Gregory, the Somerset captain, said: “This was very frustrating for us all, but I have to take my hat off to the lads for their monumental effort - 200 overs on what was a bang average wicket was a massive effort.

“It’s obviously frustrating for us but give Worcestershire credit for sticking in there and getting the job done.”

“We threw a lot at them- we have got a brilliant bowling attack and we gave everything that we could but unfortunately we didn’t have enough.”

Regarding Banton’s triple he said: “Tom Banton’s innings was incredible and no matter how good the wicket is to have the focus and ability that he has to go and do that Is an amazing achievement and we are super super chuffed for him.”

Lewis added: “I guess what he has shown us over the last 18 months as a four day cricketer is that he is getting better and better and hopefully there is more to come.”