Worcestershire's wait goes on

Ben Phillip struck an impressive 84 as Somerset's batting line-up remained strong to record a draw

A century from Zander de Bruyn and an impressive innings from Ben Phillips deprived bottom-of-the-table Worcestershire of their first victory of the season as their LV= County Championship match against Somerset at Taunton ended in a draw.

Resuming on 175 for four, still 88 runs behind Worcestershire’s first-innings score of 571, the Somerset not out batsmen de Bruyn (20 not out) and Craig Kieswetter (10no) started quietly.

Somerset wicketkeeper Kieswetter brought up his team’s 250 with a boundary to cover point in the 10th over.

The fifth-wicket pair were both in good form and as the morning wore on kept pace with each other but it was Kieswetter who brought up his half-century first, which came off 78 balls and included eight fours, when after an hour’s play he took a single to third man off Moeen Ali.

Next ball de Bruyn also reached his 50, which came off 77 balls and included six fours with a boundary to square leg off the same bowler. Kieswetter had moved on to 53 when he survived a stumping chance by wicketkeeper Ben Cox off the bowling of Ali.

The first over with the new ball which was taken after 80 overs and was bowled by Richard Jones went for 15 runs, but three overs later Gareth Andrew made the breakthrough when he had Kieswetter caught at deep backward point by Alexei Kervezee for 90 as he played a loose shot outside off stump.

New batsman Peter Trego took the scoreboard to 350 with his first scoring shot, a boundary to third man off Jones and by the lunch interval Somerset had moved onto 362 for five, with de Bruyn 87 not out.

Somerset’s hopes of saving the match were dented when Trego was out in the second over after the break, lbw to former team-mate Andrew, which brought Phillips in to join de Bruyn.

The South African, who has not enjoyed the most successful of seasons with the bat, went to his first championship century of the season with a pushed single off Jack Shantry, but three overs later was caught at first slip by Vikram Solanki flashing outside off stump for 106.

Somerset at this stage were 107 runs ahead with three wickets left and the game was still very much in the balance.

Phillips however was batting with increasing confidence and went to his 50, which came off 72 balls and included seven fours and a six, with two to third man off Solanki.

Alfonso Thomas offered fine support to Phillips and brought up the Somerset 450 with a square leg boundary off Solanki.

By the tea interval the score had moved onto 480 for seven and the game was almost safe.

Thomas went to his fifty with a boundary to fine-leg off 86 balls and the eighth-wicket pair remained together until the total had moved on to 523 when Phillips, who was on 84, was caught at first slip off Andrew as he slashed outside off stump. The pair had put on 125 runs in 32 overs.

The game ended as a draw without further addition to the score when Somerset declared with Thomas unbeaten on 54, while Andrew ended with 5-117.