A week after smashing a triple-hundred (and hitting a hole in one), Tom Banton failed twice in Somerset's County Championship game against Sussex.
Last week, Banton had broken a plethora of records en route to 371 against Worcestershire in the County Championship. At one point, he seemed on course for Brian Lara’s world record first-class score of 501 not out. When he followed that with a hole in one on the golf course, it seemed he could do no wrong.
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However, things quickly reverted to the mean at Hove, where Banton played his next game in the County Championship, against Sussex. Despite no one reaching fifty (though Daniel Hughes and Tom Clark made 49 apiece), the hosts made 294 after John Simpson won the toss and opted to bat. For the tourists, captain Lewis Gregory claimed 4-50.
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Somerset then ran into trouble against Fynn Hudson-Prentice (4-31), who soon reduced them to 69-6. The wickets included Banton’s, caught-behind for a nine-ball six. James Rew (80 not out) and Gregory (36) added 110 for the seventh wicket, but Sean Hunt (5-48) secured a 93-run lead for the home side.
Tom Haines (141) and Hughes (91) then added 184 for the opening stand to put Sussex firmly into the driver’s seat. Simpson (110 not out) piled on further misery before declaring the innings closed on 501-7, setting a target of 595. For Somerset, Jack Leach claimed 4-167.
This time Hunt took out the openers before Tom Lammonby and Tom Abell added 63. Banton walked out at 80-3 once Hunt caught Lammonby (33) off his own bowling off the first ball of the 20th over. Five balls later, Hunt bowled Banton for a duck.
At stumps on day three, Somerset were 125-4 with Abell (60) and Rew (19) at the crease. They need another 470. All four wickets have gone to Hunt (4-28).
