COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE, Taunton
Somerset v Warwickshire
15-18 April (Play starts 1100 BST)
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY THREE: Warwicks 500 Somerset 454-4(Somerset 7pts, Warwicks 6pts)

Hildreth hit 24 fours and two sixes in his unbeaten 191

Somerset batsman James Hildreth hit an unbeaten 191 on day three, but a draw is the most likely result at Taunton.

Hildreth shared a club record third-wicket stand of 225 with Justin Langer (76) as Somerset closed on 454-4 in response to Warwickshire's 500 all out.

Marcus Trescothick (52) and Craig Kieswetter (53 not out) were also in the runs for the home side.

Only Chris Woakes (3-80) and James Anyon (1-81) had any success as the Bears' bowlers were made to toil.

Warwickshire's cause was not helped by captain Tim Ambrose missing the day's play with a sore back, Tony Frost deputising as wicketkeeper, and Neil Carter being limited to bowling only three overs because of a calf problem.

606: DEBATE I've always admired young Jimmy, ever since I saw him dispatch Shoaib around the park a few years ago. WiStAhm

But, after Woakes removed Trescothick and Anyon had Arul Suppiah caught behind to leave the home side in potential danger at 118-2, Somerset showed no mercy.

The partnership between Hildreth and Langer broke the county's previous third-wicket record of 206, set by Brian Rose and Sir Viv Richards in 1982.

It was finally ended when Woakes trapped former Australian international lbw with his second delivery with the second new ball.

Woakes then had Zander de Bruyn caught by Rikki Clarke at second slip, but that proved the Bears' final breakthrough as Hildreth and Kieswetter shared an unbroken stand of 100 before the close.

BBC WM's Mike Taylor reviews day three at Taunton:

"A draw is the almost certain outcome of this game, and probably would have been if it were played on an uninterrupted four days, or even five.

"James Hildreth's superb unbeaten 191 was the standout of Somerset's innings and he showed complete mastery of all the bowlers.

"Warwickshire deserved credit for never letting their heads drop in the field and Chris Woakes and Jim Anyon bowled long, big-hearted spells.

"Of more concern than the state of the game, though, will be the injury problems that plagued Warwickshire last season and have appeared again, even at this very early stage.

"Tim Ambrose missed the whole of the day with a bad back and Neil Carter most of it with a strained calf."

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version