SOMERSET played their best cricket of the season, but still had to settle for a fourth successive County Championship draw, after two days of rain halted their charge for victory at Edgbaston. 

A century from Tom Abell along with 94 from Peter Trego, was followed by an impressive all-round bowling performance - but after setting Warwickshire 322 to win, wet weather put paid to any chance of a result.

Director of cricket, Matt Maynard said: “It hasn’t been an easy wicket to bat on and up and down and the batting of Abell and Trego, along with Hildreth and a couple of partnerships lower in the order in our first innings, allowed us to put a really good score on the board.

“We followed that up with very disciplined bowling and to get a lead of 140 odd was an excellent effort.

“We got ahead in the game, which was the challenge to the players before the match, to try and get ahead.

“All credit to the bowling and fielding group, so the boys are in good spirits and want to get the result that will put us in good stead ahead of Yorkshire.”

The reigning county champions visit Taunton on Sunday without the services of England stars, Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow, who are set to take on Sri Lanka in the first test at Lords, starting on Thursday (May 19).

Left-arm seamer, David Willey is also likely to miss the game with an abdominal injury, but Maynard is still expecting a tough test at Taunton.

He said: “They are a tough side and this year at times the top three or four haven’t got runs and then all of a sudden they have got stuck in with lower order contributions.”

“Yorkshire have got a lot of character and are a hard side to beat which is why they have been the champions for the last two seasons.

“However we are really looking forward to it and you can gauge where you are when you challenge the best, and at the moment Yorkshire are the best team in the country.

“Our challenge is to try and be up to their standard for this game.”