Vitality County Championship – Tom Banton the hero for Somerset however prone to miss T20 Finals Day

Banton batted at No. 11 in Somerset’s second innings, scoring 46 in an important last-wicket stand with Craig Overton price 71. Surrey then collapsed from 95 for 3 to 109 all out within the remaining session of the sport, Somerset securing victory with minutes left within the day to chop the champions’ lead on the high to eight factors.

Jason Kerr, Somerset’s head coach, stated afterwards that Banton was unlikely to play within the semi-final at Edgbaston after sustaining a “fairly critical” damage throughout the workforce’s warm-up on day three.

“Tom will journey with us to T20 Finals Day, however may be very unlikely to participate,” Kerr stated. “His ankle damage appears fairly critical, however we’re nonetheless awaiting the outcomes of a scan to find out how unhealthy it’s.

“James Rew will come into the squad and I’d be shocked if he does not maintain wicket for us. Tom is an unimaginable expertise, however so is James and we imagine he has a shiny future in all codecs.”

Somerset’s dramatic victory stored them in contact with Surrey, the two-time defending champions, and maintained their hopes of profitable a home treble, having additionally progressed to the One-Day Cup remaining later this month.

“To get a win with solely a few minutes left within the match was very particular. 4-day wins are among the most pleasing you’ve gotten as a cricketer since you work so laborious for them.

“Archie has taken to first-class cricket like a duck to water. The truth that he’s extra of a batter than a bowler is the actually thrilling bit and we imagine he’s going to be excellent to look at with the bat over quite a lot of years. For those who throw within the off-spin he has bowled on this recreation, there’s a mighty particular cricketer creating.

“Leachy is a good mate of mine. He has been by means of a great deal of adversity in his life and never simply his cricket profession. It is nice to see him again within the England squad and I am certain he’ll present what he can do in Pakistan.

“The coaches and myself stated firstly of the season that we needed to be ready to problem for trophies come September. The truth that we are able to nonetheless win three reveals the calibre of gamers we have now in our dressing room.”

Though Surrey had their lead reduce on the high reduce, they continue to be in command of their very own future with two rounds of the Championship to play – a house fixture towards Durham and a visit to Chelmsford to play Essex.

“We had a focus lapse for the final hour of the sport and it value us the consequence,” Surrey head coach, Gareth Batty, stated. “It was an excellent recreation of cricket and we performed our half in it, however Somerset deservedly take the factors.

“We’re nonetheless high of the league and eight factors clear. And, whereas we had a poor hour, there have been nonetheless a number of positives to take from the sport for us.

“Archie Vaughan bowled properly, however it’s for Somerset to touch upon his efficiency. It is a very nice begin for the lad and we want him all of the success for the longer term.

“It can keep within the dressing room how we’re feeling. We’re a really tight unit and we’ll go into subsequent week extremely assured that we are able to do what’s required at The Oval.

“We meet Somerset once more at Finals Day on Saturday. It will likely be a unique format and completely different color ball, however each groups have performed good cricket within the group levels. There shall be a couple of new faces within the match-ups and we’ll go once more.”