Rew century gets county off the mark after recovery

REPORT BY RICHARD LATHAM ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay

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JAMES Rew's tenth first class century guided Somerset to an unlikely first Rothesay County Championship victory of the season, a three-wicket success against Essex at the Cooper Associates Ground, Taunton.

Having been 78-5 at one stage in their second innings, chasing 321 to win, the home side began the final day on 216-6, still needing 105. But Rew took his score from 65 to a superb 116, off 189 balls, with 18 fours, sharing a seventh-wicket stand of 133 with Craig Overton, who contributed 53 not out, to complete a remarkable fightback.

Overton ended the game 25 minutes before lunch with a straight six off Simon Harmer, which took him to an 111-ball half-century notable for unbroken concentration and application in a pressure situation.

Essex had let things slip with some wayward bowling the previous evening and their bowlers found scant assistance in a last-day pitch that had aided seam and spin considerably in the previous sessions.

They had to settle for three points, having been on top for long periods, while Somerset claimed a welcome 19 after a disappointing start to the campaign.