COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE, New Road:
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY THREE: Somerset 428-6 dec Worcestershire 164-6 (Somerset 7pts, Worcs 2pts)
21 - 24 July 2009

Langer has now made 28,080 first-class runs - 13 more than Bradman

Justin Langer became Australia's highest scoring batsman as Somerset turned the screw on Worcestershire on day three at New Road.

Langer broke Sir Don Bradman's record as he took his overnight 89 to 107 before falling to Matt Mason.

Craig Kieswetter also hit 59 not out as Somerset, having resumed on 312-3, declared their first innings on 428-6.

And although rain again intervened, the hosts were reduced to 164-6 in reply, 115 short of avoiding the follow-on.

Steven Davies is Worcestershire's best hope of reaching that target after ending the day 40 not out.

Ben Smith was the only other home batsman who offered any real resistance, making 38.

Worcestershire have struggled with the bat all season, and that showed little sign of changing from the moment Charl Willoughby trapped Stephen Moore leg before in the third over.

606: DEBATE Give your reaction to Langer's achievement

Captain Vikram Solanki also departed, caught at leg slip off David Stiff, before the home side had reached 50.

Opener Daryl Mitchell made a hard-earned 20 off 70 balls before being bowled by Andrew Caddick, and he was soon followed back to the pavilion by Moeen Ali, caught at slip by Langer off Willoughby.

Peter Trego had Smith caught at point before Alfonso Thomas had Gareth Batty caught behind as the Somerset attack shared the wickets around.

Worcestershire's woes were in start contrast to the visitors, who saw Langer pass Bradman's milestone 20 minutes after the start of play when he drove Matt Mason for four.

Mason eventually got his revenge when he had Langer caught at cover, by which time he had 13 more runs to his name than Bradman - 28,080 compared to 28,067 - albeit from 277 more innings.

But his departure did not end the Somerset assault, with Kieswetter continuing his best season with the bat by hitting four sixes in his half-century before the declaration came.

Worcestershire's Ben Smith told BBC Hereford & Worcester:

"They put us under pressure all day by setting some imaginative fields.

"They had a nine-zero field to Steve Davies on the offside and the ball swung while it has stayed fairly new because the wicket is not particularly abrasive.

"They have hit very good areas, better areas than our bowlers managed to do unfortunately."

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