Highlights from the final day at Taunton
Chris Rogers completed the 11th first-class double-hundred of his prolific career as Middlesex eased relegation fears by batting out a draw on the final day of their LV= County Championship match with Somerset at Taunton.
Unbeaten on 97 overnight, the veteran Australian took his number of first-class hundreds to 70 and went on to bat through the day to register 203 not out.
His side closed on 328 for four - leading by 28 runs - when the players shook hands at 4.20pm, Joe Denly having contributed a valuable 60.
The result meant Middlesex took seven points from the game to Somerset's 11 and will go into their final championship fixture at Emirates Old Trafford next week 19 ahead of opponents Lancashire, who occupy the final relegation place, in the fight to avoid the drop to Division Two.
Rogers faced 386 balls and hit 29 fours in an innings spanning seven-and-a-half hours, showing huge powers of concentration on what became a seriously hot afternoon.
For Somerset it was an all too familiar tale of being unable to bowl out opponents on the final day at Taunton, with the wicket slow and flat.
Middlesex began the final day on 140 for one, still 160 behind, and nerves must have fluttered in the visiting dressing room when Dawid Malan was dismissed without adding to his overnight 34.
DOUBLE TON FOR BUCK - Middx 328-4. Rogers 203*, 381 balls, 29x4s. #battedskip#again
— Middlesex Cricket (@Middlesex_CCC) September 18, 2014
With the first ball of the second over, left-arm spinner Jack Leach broke through as Malan drove at a wide delivery and edged to Marcus Trescothick at slip.
It was the perfect start for Somerset, but they had to wait 52.1 overs for another wicket as Rogers and Denly settled in for a stand of 144, which effectively saved the game.
A brief stoppage for bad light interrupted the morning session, but by lunch Middlesex had progressed to 230 for two, with Rogers on 152 and Denly 34. Neither had given a chance.
The second new ball was taken immediately after the interval and caused few alarms. Denly reached his half-century off 120 balls, with five fours.
He appeared unlucky to be adjudged lbw to Craig Overton in the 99th over, perhaps having got an edge onto his pads. By then the total was 284 and Middlesex trailed by only 16 runs.
Somerset's hopes were briefly raised when Overton sent back Eoin Morgan for a duck, bowled shouldering arms.
But tea was reached with the visitors 300 for four and the deficit wiped out.
Rogers needed 10 to reach 200 and did so with his 29th four, drilled through mid-off from a Leach full-toss.
LISTEN: Captain Chris Rogers expresses his pride as The team fought back to secure the draw at Taunton #Middlesex150 http://t.co/rMFZ0ohS85
— Middlesex Cricket (@Middlesex_CCC) September 18, 2014
By then the hosts had accepted the inevitable and Trescothick called for handshakes at the earliest opportunity.
Reflecting on the match, Rogers said: "If we hadn't got anything out of this game we would have gone to Manchester next week with things wide open, so we couldn't afford to lose.
"It was good for me to again be the guy who stood up for Middlesex because I am very proud to play for this club.
"We can expect a result pitch at Old Trafford, but Lancashire need to make 400, so it will be interesting. There may be an element of safety in our approach, but we have to go there and get a result."
Somerset held a special ceremony at the end of the match to mark their last appearance at Taunton before the Old Pavilion is demolished to make room for a new stand.
Trescothick said: "It is an historic moment in the club's history. The Old Pavilion has witnessed some great cricket over many years and is probably the last remaining structure at the ground from when I began my career here.
"The playing staff are looking forward to a new era, which I am sure will bring success, but we will all cherish fond memories of the Old Pavilion and the support we have received from spectators sitting in it."