SOMERSET 2026 Festival of Red Ball Cricket that took place during the Division One Rothesay County Championship match against Warwickshire at Taunton over last weekend had just about everything you could possibly want from a 4 day match - except a home win!

To set the tone for those entering the ground by the Jack Whites Gates, the King’s College Big Band provided a musical welcome

The first day crowd of 3000 was swollen by 500 members of the Farming Community Network and during the lunch interval members of the Somerset Disability team demonstrated their skills out on the pitch.

On. Sunday morning the Annual Church Service, too, place ahead of the start of play and throughout the course of the game the Somerset Cricket Museum was open and there was a demonstration of bat-making taking place in the Millichamp and Hall workshop.

Out on the pitch on the opening morning after winning the toss and opting to bat first, Somerset soon found themselves in trouble after losing three wickets with the score on 21.

Thanks to a solid and patient 90 off 184 balls from Lewis Goldsworthy, the hosts managed to reach 208 before they were all out in 65 overs. The left handed Cornishman was supported firstly by 18 year old Thomas Rew who added 65 for the fourth wicket before he was out for 35.

Josh Shaw, making his first home appearance in the championship, then added 55 for the eighth wicket before he too perished for 28, with Goldworthy being last wicket to fall.

In reply Warwickshire were dismissed for 330 in 102 overs, Alfie Ogborne the pick of the bowlers, taking 3 for 40 while there were two each for Craig Overton and Jake Ball.

Facing a deficit of 122, Somerset found themselves 148 for 6 - effectively 26 runs ahead with 4 wickets left, when Thomas Rew was joined by acting captain Overton.

What happened next was simply a joy to watch as the two home produced boys both proceeded to make centuries.

Rew’s was his second in the space of a week and there will be many many more to come without doubt, and his first on home turf, while the captain’s was his third of the season.

The seventh wicket partnership was worth 233 when Overton was first to go , his 111 coming off 232 balls and containing 15 fours and a 6. Next over and without addition to the total Rew perished for 149, a career best which he complied from 287 deliveries and which included 18 fours.

Jack Leach made 25 not out from 51 balls before Somerset were all out for 435 in the 154th over.

Requiring 314 for victory Warwickshire never looked to be in the chase and by the time bad light and then heavy rain brought the game to a conclusion they had moved onto 98 for 2, both wickets falling to Leach who ended with 2 for 24 from his 16 overs.

The match ended in a draw from which Somerset take 11 points, a haul that sees them end the first part of the championship season in second place in the table, five points behind leaders Nottinghamshire.

Somerset now return to Vitality Blast action starting on Friday when they host Gloucestershire starting at 6.30pm, ahead of which Somerset Women host Durham at 2.30pm.