Harinath sparkles in Taunton draw

The LVCC Division One match between Somerset and Surrey at Taunton has ended in a draw, with Arun Harinath striking his second century in as many matches.

Rory Burns and Zafar Ansari continue from where they left off last night, with Burns the aggressor of the two. He went to his 3rd Championship half century of the season off almost exactly 100 balls, and the left handed pair took their side to our first 100 opening stand this year.

However, Burns didn't last much longer as he was removed by Dockrell for 60. That wicket slowed the run rate down considerably, showing that Surrey seemed to be happy with a draw in this game. Ansari was struggling to score, and he was the next man out for 39, caught off Mahmood. 

That brought KP to the crease, who started from where he left off on Tuesday, hitting Dockrell for 3 fours inside his first 12 deliveries. There was still enough time for him to hit a trademark six before lunch, in which Surrey went into with a lead of 176, and a draw looking increasingly likely. 

However, Somerset opened up with Hildreth and Jones after the break, suggesting that the teams had come to an agreement. However, after a couple of big overs, Pietersen was caught at just the wrong time for a 40 ball 58, to give Jones his 1st First Class wicket. And with that wicket, Somerset brought back their proper bowlers, showing that giving the likes of Jones a bowl may have just been a tactic to get KP out, rather than set up a match.

And with de Bruyn in ahead of Roy, that certainly seemed the case. But Roy was in not long after though, when de Bruyn was caught for 18, as the lead passed 250. Even the introduction of Roy to the crease, despite one big six, the rate didn't really raise as the game edged towards a draw.

Harinath brought up his half century shortly after Roy came in, and after his century against Middlesex a couple of weeks ago, he really is trying hard to earn a contract for next year. Roy failed to capitalise on the opportunity of finding some form though, as he was bowled by Mahmood for 28. 

It was now over to Gary Wilson to try and guide Harinath to back to back centuries, and he did so, as the Pemberton Greenish Academy graduate took 2 off Peter Trego. Hands were shook not long after with Surrey 360-5, with 9 points for us coming out of this game. 

So after the first days play, it is dissapointing that we couldn't win the game, but the weather put paid to that. Lots of good contributions in te game, Meaker with 4 wickets, KP with a brilliant hundred and half century and a hundred for Arun Harinath, who has surely earned a contract for next season, and a place in the side for a while now. 

The main issue that will be talked about with this game is the run out of Alex Barrow. I still believe that Kartik did the right thing, and that was backed up today by the likes of Atherton, Lloyd and Holding. 

Our next game is the penultimate of the season, as Notts travel to the Kia Oval. With Notts still mathematically in the title race, they won't be a pushover, which means the final game at Liverpool will be oh so vital for us to stay in this division.