COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE, New Road:
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY TWO: Somerset 312-3 (Somerset 3pts, Worcs 1pt)
21 - 24 July 2009

Trescothick celebrates reaching his century at New Road

Marcus Trescothick hit his fourth Championship century of the season as Somerset seized the initiative on day two against Worcestershire at New Road.

Despite only 68 overs being possible as the weather again intervened, Somerset made rapid progress to close on 312-3.

Trescothick led the charge with 142, sharing century partnerships with Arul Suppiah (47) and Justin Langer (89no).

Langer was six runs short of beating Sir Don Bradman's record of first-class runs scored by an Australian at stumps.

Bradman made 28,067 first-class runs during his illustrious career, with 38-year-old Langer now on 28,062.

But it was Trescothick who took centre stage after Worcestershire captain Vikram Solanki put the visitors in, making his third century in six Championship innings.

Worcestershire's attack, without the injured Kabir Ali, Ashley Noffke and Simon Jones, struggled to contain him, as he smashed 27 boundaries in his 201-ball innings.

They were not helped by their failure to take any of the half-chances that came their way, with Mason failing to take a sharp return catch off Suppiah, who also edged Chris Whelan agonisingly past Daryl Mitchell's fingertips.

Suppiah was eventually the first to fall, trapped leg before by Mason, after an opening stand of 140, before Stephen Moore dropped Trescothick off Gareth Andrew at cover when he was 73.

They were made to pay as Trescothick went on to almost double his score and was given excellent support by Langer, who made his first half-century in 11 Championship innings, in a stand of 169 for the second wicket.

That was ended when the former England opener was caught behind off Mason.

Peter Trego followed in the next over, caught by Batty at mid-off, before play came to an end with Langer tantalisingly close to making history.

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