County Championship: Slater steers Notts to draw with Somerset

Ben Slater’s unbeaten 168 secured Nottinghamshire a draw with Somerset on a lifeless pitch in the County Championship clash at Trent Bridge.

Only one wicket fell in 72 overs on the final day, with overseas batter Will Young making 68 not out after Olly Stone had been out for 63 nine overs after lunch.

There was too little in the pitch to encourage much interest for the bowlers, however, and it was hardly surprising that Nottinghamshire showed no interest in setting Somerset a target, given that their prospects of taking 10 wickets were almost non-existent.

The 13 points Nottinghamshire take ensure they remain at a comfortable distance from the relegation places in the Division One table while Somerset’s 15 keep them third.

After sharing an opening partnership of 172 with Haseeb Hameed that was broken shortly before Tuesday’s close, Slater found two more long-term companions in Stone and Young.

Stone chipped in with 63 to go with his first-innings 83 batting at nine before Jake Ball thudded one into his pad to break the stand at 136.

Slater was by then into three figures for the first time this season, reaching the century mark with a six and 12 fours.

When Stone departed, Nottinghamshire’s lead was 198 and, with little in the pitch to excite bowlers of any variety, Somerset could only hope a declaration might keep them in the game.

Yet the docile surface meant that realistically there could be only one winner in such a scenario and there was nothing in the way Slater and Young went about their business to suggest that such a course of action was even being considered.

The handshakes came shortly before 5pm to bring the contest to a close.