LONDON, England, CMC – West Indies discard Omari Banks rediscovered his touch with the bat yesterday but his county side Somerset were facing a tough task to save their match against Hampshire.
The right-handed Banks, more known for his off-breaks, scored a handsome unbeaten 45 to help the visitors to 393 all out, in reply to Hampshire’s first innings of totals of 548.
With the follow-on imposed, Somerset reached 50 without loss at the close of the third day on Saturday, still 105 runs shy of making the hosts bat again at the Rose Bowl in Southampton.
Resuming from 98 for three overnight, Somerset got 118 from former England opener Marcus Trescothick who stroked 14 fours and two sixes off 216 balls, in four hours and 42 minutes at the crease. He added 147 for the sixth wicket with 147-run stand with wicketkeeper/batsman Craig Kieswetter whose 94 required just 129 balls and included 16 fours and a six.
Banks, who grabbed four for 120 in Hampshire’s first innings, then stroked five fours and a six off 76 balls and shared a crucial 70-run, ninth-wicket partnership with Max Waller who struck 28, to give Somerset valuable lower order runs.
Leg-spinner Imran Tahir snatched seven for 140 to be Hampshire’s best bowler.
At St Lawrence Ground in Canterbury, West Indies fast bowler Pedro Collins also surprisingly featured with the bat to help Surrey’s batting effort against Kent.
Batting at No. 11, Collins pitched in with 23 from 37 balls with four fours as Surrey’s tail wagged to propel them to 423 all out in their first innings on the second day.
Collins shared a last-wicket stand of 58 with Tim Linley who finished unbeaten on 35. Johnathan Batty (96) and Michael Brown (88) added 171 for the first wicket to get Surrey off to solid start.
In reply, Kent were 242 for three at the close with former England wicketkeeper Geraint Jones unbeaten on 102.
