Mitchell is history maker at Somerset (From Worcester News)

Mitchell is history maker at Somerset

6:39pm Thursday 17th September 2009 in

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DARYL Mitchell recorded Worcestershire’s fifth highest individual score of all time in the game at Somerset today.

The Badsey-born opener, already the first County player to reach 1,000 first-class runs this season, added 66 to his overnight score before being dismissed for 298.

Mitchell’s effort has only been beaten by New Road legend Graeme Hick on three occasions (405, 315, 303) and by Glenn Turner (311).

In the LV County Championship Division One clash at Taunton, Somerset finished the second day on 184-3 in reply to the visitors’ 571 all out.

Marcus Trescothick celebrated his appointment as Somerset’s next captain by taking his season’s first-class tally to 1,817.

The country’s leading scorer made 72 with departing skipper Justin Langer contributing 46 in what could prove his last four-day innings for Somerset.

Worcestershire drove home their first-day advantage early on although David Wheeldon failed to add to his overnight 87.

But there was an impressive 61 from 17-year-old debutant wicketkeeper Ben Cox as the County’s last six wickets fell for 163.

The home side faced another frustrating session in the field as their opponents progressed from 408-4 to 525-6 at lunch.

Wheeldon’s hopes of a maiden Championship century ended quickly when he miscued a pull shot off Alfonso Thomas.

Ex-Somerset player Gareth Andrew then fell for a duck but it proved a brief respite for the bowlers as teenager Cox joined Mitchell in another run spree.

Mitchell’s amazing innings came to an end early in the afternoon when his middle stump was knocked back by Peter Trego with the score on 539-7.

The opener faced 380 balls, hitting a six and 54 fours in an innings he will remember forever.

Cox’s promising knock spanned 116 deliveries, featuring nine fours and a six.

He was bowled by Trego in his next over.

The Somerset all-rounder then bowled Matt Mason for four on his way to figures of 3-89.

The hosts looked set to cash in on a good batting wicket but Andrew yorked Arul Suppiah for 22 to make it 45-1.

Both Langer and Trescothick fell to lapses in concentration.

Langer cut Jack Shantry to Wheeldon at point, while Trescothick gave Moeen Ali the charge which allowed Cox to complete a memorable day with a simple stumping.