County Championship: Surrey bowl out Somerset despite Banton ton

Tom Banton hit his third first-class century as Somerset posted 317 all out on the opening day of the County Championship Division One match against leaders Surrey at Taunton.

The battle of the top two began with the hosts winning the toss and electing to bat first on a pitch expected to offer increasing turn.

Banton hit a brilliant 132, one short of his career best, with 16 fours and a six, while Tom Abell contributed 49, Archie Vaughan 44 and James Rew 38.

Surrey launched a determined fightback with the second new ball to limit the damage from 305-5 at one stage.

Bangladesh spinner Shakib Ul Hasan, signed solely for this game, claimed 4-97 and Dan Worrall 3-41.

Lewis Goldsworthy was out for a duck to the second ball of the match, with Tom Lammonby’s departure for 21 in the 12th over leaving leaving Vaughan, the 18-year-old son of England Ashes-winning captain Michael, and Abell to bat through the morning session.

Vaughan departed to the second ball of the afternoon session, caught behind off Worrall.

Abell, seeking to build on hundreds in the previous two Championship home games, again played with confidence before becoming Shakib’s first victim when he played back to a delivery that skidded through.