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Tom shows his class on day one of top of the table clash
Tom Banton scored a majestic century on a rollercoaster opening day of this top of the table clash between Somerset and Surrey at the Cooper Associates County Ground.
Both sides gained and relinquished the upper hand throughout three fascinating sessions in a match that will have a huge say on the destination of this year’s division one title.
After winning the toss and electing to bat, the host’s morning got off to the worst possible start when Lewis Goldsworthy was bowled by the second ball of the day, a swinging delivery from Kemar Roach.
Tom Lammonby joined Archie Vaughan in the middle and the pair began to rebuild. However, Jordan Clark was brought into the attack to bowl the 12th over and he struck with his first ball. Lammonby was the player to go, edging through to Sibley at second slip and departing for 21.
Vaughan continued to accrue his runs in an intelligent manner and by the time the lunch interval arrived he and Tom Abell had taken Somerset to 93 for two.
Unfortunately, the afternoon session began in exactly the same way as the morning session as Somerset lost a wicket to the second ball. This time it was Vaughan who departed for a resolute 44 after edging Dan Worrell through to Ben Foakes thus breaking the third wicket partnership which was worth 60.
Abell and Tom Banton then complimented each other brilliantly to bring up their 50 partnership from 98 balls, but Abell fell for 49 when Sakib Al Hasan got one to skid on. Abell looked to cut but was bowled at 155 for four.
Undeterred, Banton brought up his 50 from 90 balls, and when the tea interval arrived he had advanced to 65 as Somerset reached the break with the scoreboard showing 197 for four.
The evening session saw both Banton and James Rew grow in confidence as the pair brought up their 50 partnership from 89 balls.
Banton has been superb again for Somerset this summer and he went to his century from 132 deliveries. He reached his landmark courtesy of an inside edge which flashed past his stumps and raced to the boundary for four. He had earned that luck in what could prove to be a critical innings in both this match and in the County Championship title fight.
The Hundred partnership for the fifth wicket arrived from 137 balls and the pair also secured a first batting point. However, their stand ended at 107 when Tom Curran got one to reverse and Rew edged behind for 38.
Banton was joined by Kasey Aldridge and the pair added 43 for the sixth wicket and took Somerset past the 300-mark. However, Banton was undone by a slower ball from Worrall and his superb innings ended on 132, one run shy of equaling his career-best First Class score.
305 for six soon became 311 for nine after Aldridge was bowled by Shakib Al Hasan for 15, Craig Overton (6) was stumped and Lewis Gregory (0) was bowled by a beauty from Worrall as Somerset lost four wickets in 14 balls.
The home side were dismissed for 317 in the final over of the day when debutant Brett Randell was lbw to Shakib for three as day one of this potential title decider ended very much in the balance.
