Worcestershire were made to battle throughout day two at Taunton as Somerset’s Tom Banton produced a record-breaking innings to put the hosts in a commanding position in this Rothesay County Championship Division One fixture.
The Pears’ attack stuck to their task under hot sun and on an increasingly docile surface, but were made to toil for long periods as Banton became the first player in Somerset’s history to pass 344 in a first-class innings, surpassing Justin Langer’s previous record set in 2006.
His unbeaten 344 came from 381 balls and included 53 fours and a six. Together with James Rew, who made 152, Banton added 371 for the fifth wicket, a new Somerset record for that partnership and the largest ever against Worcestershire for that wicket.
While the scorecard may suggest a one-sided day, the Worcestershire bowlers, led by Ben Allison, Adam Finch and Ethan Brookes, showed resolve and discipline across multiple spells, rotating throughout as the side searched for breakthroughs.
Early in the day, Somerset resumed on 214-4, with Banton 84 not out, and any hopes of early success for Worcestershire were quickly put on hold. Banton brought up his century from 124 balls, glancing Matt Taylor to the fine leg boundary, and didn’t look back as he accelerated with intent.
A key moment came when Rew, on 31, top-edged a pull shot off Allison high to deep mid-wicket – only for the chance to go begging. Tom Hinley, who had otherwise fielded well, was unable to cling on, and Somerset capitalised immediately.
Rew brought up his half-century from 102 deliveries and continued to support Banton, who motored past his previous first-class best of 133. The Somerset pair moved through the morning session at pace, adding 131 before lunch to take the home side to 318-4 at the interval, already 164 runs ahead.
The afternoon saw Worcestershire take the second new ball soon after the break, but again the breakthrough proved elusive. Allison continued to ask questions, and Finch bowled with good pace from the River End, but Banton and Rew remained unflappable.
Rew raised his ninth first-class century in 186 balls, a composed innings that showed the 21-year-old’s maturity beyond his years. Banton followed by reaching his double century from 241 balls, the first of his career, to sustained applause from a crowd of over 1,500.
With the field spread and the outfield quick, the scoreboard ticked over rapidly. Banton and Rew passed 300 together and brought up Somerset’s 500 before tea, with Banton already closing in on triple figures for a second time in the same innings. The Pears, despite their efforts, were left reflecting on missed opportunities and an unforgiving surface.
Post-tea, Worcestershire found overdue reward as Ethan Brookes took a sharp return catch off Rew to end his five-and-a-half hour stay at the crease. The dismissal finally broke the fifth-wicket stand, Somerset’s highest in first-class cricket, but Banton continued to pile on the runs.
In the final overs of the day, Somerset pushed for maximum batting points and personal history. Banton, having already passed 300, launched Kashif Ali through mid-wicket for four off the penultimate delivery of the day to move past Justin Langer’s record of 342 and enter the Somerset record books with a quite extraordinary 344 not out.
Captain Brett D’Oliveira rotated his bowlers regularly, including spells for the off-spin of Ali and leg-spin of Tom Hinley, but opportunities were rare and Somerset’s total of 637-6 declared leaves Worcestershire trailing by 468 runs heading into day three.
With two full days remaining, the focus for the Pears will now shift to showing fight and determination with the bat, as they look to build partnerships and set down a marker for the remainder of the contest.
Highlights
