THE STEVE RHODES COLUMN

THE game against Somerset was a terrific win for us.

We did the right thing by putting a large score on the board in the first innings.

There is an element of luck involved when you are playing on such a flat pitch to win the toss and give yourselves the opportunity to bat first.

The luck went our way with the toss, which meant we were able get out there first and pile up a big score.

Phil Jaques and Stephen Moore batted really well together and gave us a fantastic foundation to build on and gave the middle order a great platform.

Then Graeme Hick and Ben Smith both played magnificent innings to take us past 600.

Having posted a big total, then came the hard work of bowling them out. We knew it would be difficult but we worked really hard to get ourselves into a position to take 15 wickets on the third day, which was a fantastic effort.

Roger Sillence picked up seven wickets in their first innings which, for a seamer on such a flat pitch, was a tremendous performance.

Then Gareth Batty took six wickets as we bowled them out on the way to victory --that was a brilliant effort too.

I was pleased with everyone's contributions to the win -- the team spirit and togetherness was a big factor too.

Team spirit is something we highlighted in March that we wanted to make sure was strong and there is a great atmosphere between the players in the dressing room.

Although the Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy is mathematically over for us this year, it was great to get a win over Warwickshire at Edgbaston. There are certainly no irrelevant games between Worcestershire and Warwickshire.

They had to rest Alex Loudon and Ian Bell because of international commitments, but we were without Kabir Ali too.

We decided to give Kabir a rest because of the sheer workload he has got through in recent weeks.

I was delighted to go to Edgbaston and come away with a win, but I was more impressed with the manner of the win.

We put a solid total on the board and didn't panic when Neil Carter and Jim Troughton were coming at us.

Vikram Solanki, Ray Price and Gareth controlled the middle section of the game expertly.

When I came to Worcester from Yorkshire I knew a lot about the rivalry between Yorkshire and Lancashire and I believe the competitive edge and will to win in the games between Worcestershire and Warwickshire is just the same -- it is enormous.

As far as how much Vikram bowls himself is concerned, it is totally up to him. He had a broken finger at the start of the season which impaired him when bowling, but that is better now and he can do a job with the ball more than adequately if the wicket is turning.

Graeme has now made 99 hundreds for Worcestershire which is a wonderful achievement and testament to what a great servant he has been to the club.

He will get to 100 hundreds and he will get there pretty soon if the way he batted against Somerset is anything to go by.