Star man - Ben Green<br>credit: www.ppauk.com

By RICHARD WALSH

AN unbeaten century and a five-wicket haul for Ben Green were among the highlights of Somerset 2nd XI’s innings win over Middlesex at Taunton Vale on Friday afternoon.

Somerset dominated this three-day friendly from start to finish and the result will stand them in good stead for the start of the Second XI Championship against Kent this coming week.

Dom BessMiddlesex won the toss and after electing to bat first were bowled out for 179, Tom Abell the pick of the bowlers with four for 23 from 11 overs. There were three wickets each for Joe Gore and Paul van Meekeren.

Somerset lost openers Abell and George Bartlett early before Tim Rouse and Eddie Byrom steadied things.

Rouse and Byrom went on to share an outstanding partnership of 182 before Byrom was dismissed for 96. Rouse followed shortly after for 81.

Debutant Will Smeed who is 15, hit a promising 16 as Somerset finished day one on 253 for five, a lead of 74 runs.

At the start of day two Tom Banton helped add 18 to the overnight score before he was out for 29, which left Somerset 271 for six.

Green joined Leask and the seventh-wicket pair added 98 together in 20 overs when Leask was dismissed for 67.

Green and Jack Leach then put on 39 for the eighth wicket and saw up the 400 but soon afterwards the left-arm spinner perished for 18, which brought Dom Bess to the wicket.

The young Devonians stayed together for 28 overs by which time they had added 137 runs in an unbroken ninth-wicket partnership, before Somerset declared on 545 for eight.

Green remained unbeaten on 107, which he scored off 161 balls with 16 fours and a six, while Bess was not out 65 from 80 deliveries with 10 fours.

Batting second time 366 in arrears Green got an early wicket with the score on 17. The second wicket partnership added 55 before it was brought to an end by Leach and by the close Middlesex had moved onto 128 for two off 44 overs.

On the final day Middlesex were bowled out for 329, Green claiming five for 66 from his 17 overs, while Bess ended with two for 56 off 16.5 to give Somerset victory by an innings and 37 runs.