Parsons reaches century for first time in years as rain wins at Taunton

Keith Parsons will remember the tedious final day that completed this rain-affected match long after it has been erased from the minds of slumbering spectators.

The 27-year-old local product, from Taunton, ended an eight-year wait for his first County Championship century by hitting an unbeaten 108 as Somerset batted all day to reach 368-3 in their second innings, a lead of 400.

When the declaration came to put the match out of its misery, Parsons and Peter Bowler had added 227 in an unbroken stand that was a Somerset record for the fourth wicket against Yorkshire.

But it said everything about the final session that 21-year-old Yorkshire wicketkeeper Simon Guy marked his Championship debut by discarding his pads and bowling four overs of leg-spin.

Tidy overs they were, too. And opening batsman Vic Craven could say the same about his eight overs of medium pace that cost only 15 runs.

Acting-skipper Darren Lehmann had long given up hope of forcing a victory, while opposite number Jamie Cox had never entertained any other notion than batting right through from an overnight 33-0 - 65 runs ahead.

There was a momentary chink of light for the visitors when Cox edged Chris Silverwood to Guy, having made 27, and Piran Holloway's miserable season continued as he was bowled in the following over by Matthew Hoggard.

At 56-2, Somerset were 88 ahead and not entirely safe. But Bowler joined Mark Lathwell in a stand of 85 for the third wicket, which dispelled any doubts about the outcome.

Lathwell is still trying to re-establish himself after missing the whole of last season with a knee injury. The former England batsman produced some characteristic wristy shots, but was also out in trademark fashion, caught behind off Gary Fellows for 47 when looking well set.

There were five minutes to go to lunch and it proved to be Yorkshire's last success. After the interval Bowler and Parsons capitalised on a true and easy-paced pitch to survive without alarm, while Lehmann used his front-line bowlers sparingly.

Bowler reached the fourth first class century of his benefit season off 196 balls, with 9 fours, and then became even more entrenched, taking a further 115 deliveries to add 39 to his score.

Parsons lingered in the nineties, but then drove Craven through extra cover for the two runs he needed to reach a personal landmark.

Somerset fans and team-mates were brought to life by the achievement. Parsons is a popular figure and a player who time and again has batted with effortless ease only to suffer a lapse in concentration to surrender his wicket short of a major score.

By the close he had faced 185 balls and hit 11 fours. It will not be his last Championship hundred and perhaps the next one will be of more consequence. Promotion and relegation were meant to liven up the four-day game and may well do so in the final rounds of matches.

But at present there is too much fear of losing among the sides either challenging for the title or looking to avoid a bottom three position. And that is doing the paying spectator no favours at all.

Somerset took 11 points and Yorkshire 10.