Hildreth hits triple ton in draw

COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE, Taunton
Warwicks 500 & 108-1 drew with Somerset 672-4dec(Somerset 12pts, Warwicks 10pts)
Match scorecard

Hildreth hit 35 fours and four sixes

Somerset's James Hildreth made the most of the favourable batting conditions to plunder a superb triple century in a tame draw against Warwickshire.

Hildreth hit 303 not out as the home side declared on 672-4 - their highest ever total against Warwickshire.

Craig Kieswetter also hit his maiden first-class ton, but despite the pair's best efforts the draw was inevitable.

Warwickshire breezed through the final 38 overs of their second innings, reaching 108-1 at stumps.

Somerset resumed their reply on day four on 454-4, with Hildreth 191 not out and Kieswetter on 53.

And Hildreth brought up his double century in the fourth over of the day with a boundary off the bowling of Chris Woakes.

Kieswetter completed his century with a fine four off Ant Botha and then the pair began to cut loose.

Woakes dropped a chance off Kieswetter and the visitors were made to pay as the Somerset pair brought up the 650 with some glorious strokeplay.

Moments after Hildreth had reached his triple ton, skipper Justin Langer declared on 672.

The partnership of 318 between Hildreth and Kieswetter was a new fifth-wicket championship record for the home team.

In reply, Warwickshire reached 108 for the loss of just Darren Maddy, who was caught at mid-off by Mark Turner off slow left-arm spinner Arul Suppiah for 36.

BBC WM's Mike Taylor reviews day four at Taunton:
"The good news for Warwickshire's bowlers is that it's almost inconceivable that they will be asked to perform on such a surface again this season - the pitch was as flat as the snooker tables at the Crucible.

"The bad news is that at Edgbaston on Sunday they will turn up to find the same batsmen who chastised them so harshly in this match ready to fill their boots again.

"James Hildreth's triple hundred was hugely impressive but all the bowlers suffered and only Chris Woakes and Jim Anyon caused any problems at all.

"Warwickshire did flex some batting muscles but their overall prospects in the Championship will be clearer after a home game next week."