Batter surpasses Langer to record the highest score in the county’s history as Worcestershire are made to toil

ECB Reporters Network05-Apr-2025Somerset 637 for 6 (Banton 344*, Rew 152) lead Worcestershire 154 by 483 runsTom Banton made history at the Cooper Associates Ground in Taunton as Somerset assumed a position of dominance on day two of the Rothesay County Championship First Division match against Worcestershire.The 26-year-old batter made the highest first-class score in the county’s history, his 344 surpassing the 342 made by Justin Langer against Surrey at Guildford in 2006. The right-hander faced 381 balls, struck 53 fours and a six and batted for just over eight hours. He became only the eighth Somerset player to register a triple-century and the first since James Hildreth in 2009.In a dramatic finale, Banton pulled Kashif Ali to the midwicket boundary off the penultimate ball of the day to break the record and make it a day to remember for all Somerset supporters.”It’s a weird feeling and I was a bit emotional up there in the dressing room,” Banton said. “This is the best day I’ve had in cricket and will probably be the best day I’ll ever have. It feels special and you cannot take it for granted. These days don’t come along very often and you have to make the most of them.”On a day when records tumbled, Banton and James Rew staged a mammoth stand of 371 in 86.3 overs as the home side amassed 637 for 6, a substantial first-innings lead of 468. Rew raised 152 from 275 balls, striking 14 fours and two sixes, he and Banton establishing the highest fifth–wicket partnership in Somerset history, eclipsing the 320 made by John Francis and Ian Blackwell against Durham UCCE at Taunton in 2005.It was a day to forget for Worcestershire, who toiled in the sun and now face a mammoth task if they are to save the game over the course of the next two days.ESPNcricinfo LtdAll notion of a Worcestershire fightback on day two was dispelled in a morning session that went altogether in Somerset’s favour, Banton and Rew extending their partnership to record-breaking proportions. Banton set the tone, moving from his overnight score of 84 to post his fourth first-class century in quick time from 124 balls, glancing Matt Taylor off his legs to raise that landmark with his 20th four.Worcestershire deployed seven different bowlers during the session, but Ben Allison was the only one to inconvenience the batsmen. When Rew, having advanced his score to 31, took on the seamer and top-edged a pull shot to deep mid-wicket, Tom Hinley contrived to drop a sitter.Thereafter, Worcestershire ambition unravelled with indecent haste. Ensuring the Pears were made to pay for their profligacy, Rew went to 50 from 102 balls, dispatching a short-pitched delivery from Allison through midwicket for his eighth boundary as Somerset’s lead entered three-figure territory. The hundred stand occupied 165 balls, while Banton clipped Adam Finch to fine leg to register his career-best first-class score, eclipsing the 133 he made against Kent at Taunton 11 months earlier.Rew lofted Hinley high over long-on for the first six of the match, Banton went to his maiden 150 from 173 balls and, in what seemed like no time at all, the pair established a new record Somerset stand for the fifth wicket in matches against Worcestershire, surpassing the 176 mustered by Australians Bill Alley and Colin McCool at New Road in 1959. Out of sorts with the ball and increasingly prone to errors in the field, Worcestershire conceded 131 runs in the session, Somerset reaching the interval on 318 for 4, a lead of 164.If Worcestershire hopes were invested in the new ball, which was taken shortly after lunch, they were sorely disappointed as the Banton and Rew show continued unabated, these extending their alliance to 200 from 298 deliveries.Rew may be just 21, but he has already established a reputation for consistency in excellence. There was almost a sense of inevitability that, having registered his 16th half century in first-class cricket, he would go on to achieve his ninth hundred in his 41st match. On this occasion, he brought up the landmark in 186 balls, pulling Taylor for his eleventh four to elicit a standing ovation from an audience of more than 1,500.They were on their feet again moments later, acknowledging Banton’s maiden double-hundred, a landmark attained from 241 balls with 33 fours. A breakthrough indeed for a player who, until recently, was typecast as a one-day specialist. It was fitting that Banton should then cut Taylor for four to establish a new Somerset record fifth wicket partnership with Rew.Having banked maximum batting bonus points, there was still time for Banton and Rew to extend their partnership to 300 from 413 balls before tea was taken with Somerset on 482 for 4, a substantial lead of 328.Ethan Brookes afforded Worcestershire overdue relief when taking a brilliant return catch to end Rew’s five and-a-half hour innings, after which Banton took centre stage during a dramatic final hour.”I won’t lie, I was pretty tired out there and I kept saying to myself ‘just keep batting, keep going’,” Banton said. “There were a few moments when I felt I wanted to be back in the dressing room, but I wanted to go for it (the record) tonight, so I tried to play my shots when possible.”It was also a great day for James Rew and it was special seeing him go about his work. But we cannot get too carried away, because this is a good pitch and we still have a game to win over the next two days.”