SOMERSET’S opening championship match of the season against the holders Nottinghamshire at the Cooper Associates County Ground ended a draw on Monday afternoon.

After being asked to bat first Somerset soon found themselves 14 for two before James Rew joined Josh Thomas and between them the two added 52 before the opener was out for a patient 40.

Tom Abell and Rew together saw up the 100 and then 200 before Rew was out for 64, making Somerset 206 for four. Lewis Goldsworthy came in and looked well set until he was out for 18. Abell went to his century, the 21st of his career, which came from 173 deliveries and contained nine 4s and three 6s.

However after seeing up the first batting point of the season Abell perished for 108 with Somerset 286 for six, his runs coming off 186 balls with nine 4s and two 6s, his partnership with Craig Overton yielding 41 in 10 overs.

In the morning Overton took his score onto 60 before running out of partners with Somerset all out on 347.

The visitors enjoyed the better of the second day and when they started their openers seemed untroubled by the Somerset attack and added 59 before Migael Pretorius struck.

The South African enjoyed further success when he had Haseeb Hameed sharply caught at cover by Tom Lammonby with the total on 72. Pretorius struck for a third time when McCann caught by Tom Kohler-Cadmore.

Sadly there was little further luck for the hosts as once again the weather brought the day to an early close with Nottinghamshire on 218 for three, trailing by 129 runs with seven wickets in hand.

On the third morning two runs were added to the total before Overton made an early breakthrough when he removed Jack Haynes for 55. Despite the early wicket the visitors continued to score runs until Alfie Ogborne took full advantage of the new ball . The left arm seamer claimed two wickets in the 82nd over and added a third two overs later.

Just before 3pm Jake Ball wrapped up the Nottinghamshire innings, taking the last two wickets as the visitors were all out for 338. Pick of the bowling was Pretorius with four for 65, while Ogborne ended with his championship career best three for 81 and Ball two for 90.

Batting for a second time Somerset lost Thomas for six after which Rew joined Kohler-Cadmore and began to build a partnership. The pair remained together until the close of play by which time they had taken Somerset onto 214 - a lead of 223 with nine second hand wickets remaining.

Rew ended the day unbeaten on 108 which came off 157 balls and included 13 fours and two 6s, while Kohler-Cadmore ended not out 94.

The following morning Kohler-Cadmore was out for 104 after sharing a second wicket partnership of 224. Rew went with the score on 242, having taken his total onto 122, after which Lammonby and Abell added 80 together before Abell perished for 42.

Lammonby went for 69, before Goldsworthy and Overton took Somerset onto 407 for five before declaring.

Set an unlikely target of 417 to win off 60 overs Notts ended reaching 140 for three, both sides taking 13 points.

Somerset begin a championship match today (Friday) away against Essex.