County Championship: Somerset held to draw by Warwickshire

The home side could reflect on a stirring recovery from the brink of defeat on day three when they led by just 26 runs with only four second innings wickets in hand.

Rew, unbeaten on 133, and Overton had already added 193 when play began under more cloudless skies with Somerset 341-6, leading by 219.

Neither looked in any bother and a Rew single through the leg side off Ethan Bamber brought up the double century partnership from 357 balls.

Overton went to his hundred with one of the best shots of a composed innings, a straight-drive off Bamber, which brought his 13th four.

Their stand was finally broken with the total on 381 when Overton fell lbw to a ball from Yates, which turned and beat his inside edge and Rew quickly followed, feathering a leg-side catch to wicketkeeper Alex Davies off Beau Webster, having faced 287 balls and hit 19 fours.

With a lead of 259, Somerset required one more partnership to feel safe. It came from Jack Leach and Alfie Ogborne, who added 46 before the latter was bowled by the last delivery before lunch, sent down by Suthar.

Leach, celebrating his 35th birthday, was unbeaten on 25 when last man Jake Ball perished attempting a big hit off Suthar, who gained some belated success for his tireless bowling on a pitch offering no more than slow turn.

Any hope Warwickshire had of chasing down the target of 314 in a minimum of 61 overs evaporated with the early departures of Zen Malik and Dan Mousley.

Both fell to Leach in his first three overs, Malik edging to Overton at slip and Mousley deflecting a catch to Archie Vaughan at leg-slip.

Yates and Hain opted for a safety-first approach against spinners Leach and Vaughan and by tea, they had taken the score to 75-2 from 32 overs and Warwickshire still trailed by 238.

The weather closed in at the start of the final session and the floodlights were required as Yates went to a 120-ball half-century.

Rain then began to fall and, with a thunderstorm approaching, play was abandoned at 4.45pm.

Report by ECB Reporters’ Network, supported by Rothesay.

Somerset captain Craig Overton:

“At 148-6 in our second innings, we had to show some character. Fortunately, we have a youngster in Thomas Rew, who is going to be a very good cricketer, and the little and large partnership with me saw us into what might even have been a winning position.

“We are happy with the draw considering our long list of injuries and the position we found ourselves in on day three.

“Being five points off the top of the Championship is very encouraging as we should have several key players fit and available again when red ball cricket resumes.

“Growing up, I always considered myself a batsman who bowled. To have scored three Championship hundreds this year is very satisfying as I worked hard on my batting during the winter.”

Warwickshire head coach Ian Westwood:

“We would have liked the win because it would have put us top of the table and we were probably one wicket away from securing a victory in their second innings.

“But sometimes you have to credit the opposition. The young lad Tom Rew batted extremely maturely and Craig Overton had played that way a couple of times already this season. They didn’t really give us a chance.

“With a bit more time, we might have chased the target and it would have been a good game because they would have fancied their chances too.

“Lots of teams will fancy their chances when Championship cricket resumes and we are certainly right in the mix.”