Sussex survive at Taunton

Somerset bowlers struggle for wickets on a flat pitch

Last updated: 17th May 2008

murray goodwin

Goodwin: Unbeaten century helped save Sussex

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LV County Championship - Division One
Taunton - Day Four
Somerset 557-8 dec (J C Hildreth 158, N J Edwards 99, M E Trescothick 74, Z de Bruyn 62) v Sussex 203 (M H Yardy 57, C J Adams 52) & 272-3 (M W Goodwin 106 no, M H Yardy 78)
Somerset (12pts) drew with Sussex (7pts)

An unbeaten century from Murray Goodwin helped Sussex comfortably bat out the final day against Somerset at Taunton.

The Zimbabwean faced 188 balls and hit 11 fours to reach 106 not out when bad light ended play early at 4.45pm.

The visitors had begun the final day of the Division One fixture on 36-1 needing a further 318 to avoid an innings defeat on their travels.

They never really looked in danger of subsiding against a Somerset attack lacking penetration on a flat pitch that was still good for batting.

Michael Yardy calmed any nerves for the visitors with 78, putting on exactly 100 with Carl Hopkinson (38) before the opener gave wicketkeeper Craig Kieswetter his sixth catch of the match.

Left-hander Yardy was the only other wicket to fall in the day when he edged a drive off Steffan Jones to Marcus Trescothick at second slip.

Goodwin then combined with skipper Chris Adams, who finished unbeaten on 39, as Sussex reached 272-3 when the game came to an end not too long after tea.

Day Three

Sussex are staring defeat in the face after they were forced to follow on in murky conditions on Friday.

Ben Phillips and Peter Trego took three wickets apiece as the visitors slumped from 100-1 to 203 all out - despite Chris Adams being dropped three times on the way to making 52, while Michael Yardy also had a life before making 57.

Second time around Sussex lost opener Chris Nash first ball but recovered to 36-1 when bad light stopped play, still 318 short of making Somerset bat again.

Sussex moved comfortably to 100-1 as Yardy and Carl Hopkinson (49) completed a century stand, but Yardy was lbw to Phillips just before lunch and the middle order buckled in the afternoon as rain brought about several interruptions.

Adams was finally held by Charl Willoughby at square leg to give Phillips his third victim before Nash completed a pair when he was trapped in front by Willoughby.

Day Two

With Thursday morning's play in Taunton being washed out, Somerset continued to pile on the runs against champions Sussex when play finally continued at 2.30pm in the afternoon.

James Hildreth resumed on 127 and went past the 150 mark before he was caught by Michael Yardy at mid-wicket off the bowling of Ollie Rayner for 158.

During his innings Hildreth faced 199 balls, hit 14 fours and four sixes and

passed the 4,000 first-class runs mark in his career.

And South African all-rounder Zander de Bruyn chipped in with 62 - sharing a fourth-wicket partnership of 131 with Hildreth - as the hosts progressed to 518 for six.

Robin Martin-Jenkins claimed the wickets of Peter Trego (42) and Craig Kieswetter (29) but, with Ben Phillips on 14 not out, captain Justin Langer elected to declare.

The skipper then played his part as the home side made a strong start in the field, Langer on hand at first slip to take the catch off Charl Willoughby that dismissed opener Chris Nash (0).

Sussex thus teetering on 0-1, Yardy (17) and Carl Hopkinson (2) then successfully saw them through to the close - brought forward because of bad light.

Day one

Somerset suffered no repeat of their batting collapse against Hampshire as they put Sussex's bowlers to the sword at Taunton.

Just a week after being reduced to 23-6 in their previous LV County Championship fixture, the home side finished day one against the reigning champions on an imposing 399-3.

James Hildreth reached the close on 127 not out after being dropped by Michael Yardy off the bowling of Luke Wright when he had made just 18.

The left-hander was able to carry on the good work done by Marcus Trescothick and Neil Edwards, who put on 151 for the first wicket.

Neither batsmen managed to reach three figures, though, Trescothick edging behind for 74 to become Corey Collymore's first Championship wicket for his new employers.

Opening partner Edwards fell agonisingly short of a deserved century when he was run out for 99 in strange circumstances.

Chris Adams, who had opted to field first after winning the toss, managed a direct hit from first slip after the batsman had run down the wicket to spinner Ollie Rayner.