Despite a fine innings from Jamie Cox the Cidermen still go down at Bath

Despite their brave attempts Somerset eventually lost their championship match against Worcestershire at Bath this afternoon, but it wasn't without a fight.

Resuming on 144 for 3 this morning the Somerset overnight pair Mike Burns (33) and Jamie Cox (35)quickly got into their stride.

The Tasmanian announced his intentions with two very sweetly played straight drives off Nantie Hayward that rifled into the boundary boards in front of the sight screen at the Sports Centre End.

It was Cox who brought up the hundred and fifty and then went to his half century first. Burns meanwhile was content to play more circumspectly whilst his partner chalked up the runs, but in the 69th over of the innings with the score on 223 he brought up his fifty with a boundary off Gareth Batty.

The pair continued to look comfortable until Burns who was on 57 gave a catch to Vickram Solanki off the bowling of Andrew Hall, and the Cidermen had lost their first wicket of the day at 12 .40pm, and the score was 247 for 4.

The fourth wicket pair had put on 179 runs and set a new partnership for the county against Worcestershire, beating that of Nigel Felton and Nick Pringle of 143 that was set in 1987.

Ian Blackwell came to join Cox, but although he didn't look he was still at the wicket unbeaten on 6 when lunch was taken with Somerset on 258 for 4,whilst Cox had moved onto 98 not out.

The second over after the interval Cox went to his century to earn rich applause from the good sized crowd who were enjoying the sunshine at the Rec.

Blackwell scored a well timed square drive to the boundary off Andrew Hall, but shortly afterwards was caught by David Leatherdale who was fielding as sub at silly point off the bowling of Batty.

Cox meanwhile continued in his relentless way and brought up the three hundred with a beautifully hit square cut off Mark Harrity that rattled into the press tent.

Rob Turner stayed with Cox for some time but after he had made 10 he was given out LBW off the bowling of Batty, and Somerset had slipped to 334 for 6.

Turner's dismissal seemed to give Worcestershire new heart and they sensed that they now had victory in their sights. Cox however brought up his hundred and fifty , and shortly after Somerset's 350, before six runs later he lunged forward offering no shot to Hall and was given out LBW after scoring a superb 160.

As he walked back slowly to the pavilion with the score on 356 for 7 he was applauded by the crowd, but with the fall of his wicket any real chance of saving the game was lost.

Keith Parsons was out in the following over when he became another victim for Batty, and despite a late boundary from Nixon McLean who batted with a runner the Cidermen were eventually all out at 4.20pm for 367.

Needing 68 runs for victory from the 29 remaining overs the visitors claimed their victory in quick time when the first ball of the eighth over was clipped to the boundary to give Worcestershire victory by nine wickets.

At the end of the game Somerset coach Kevin Shine told me; "Of course we are hugely disappointed at the result but to be honest we had lost this match earlier on when we didn't perform well in the first innings, but I was happy with the way that we batted today."

Regarding today's centurion he said: "Jamie Cox is in very good form this year. He is a class player, real quality and what a valuable signing he has proved to be for Somerset over the years."

He continued: "We have had an excellent run of five games in the championship, and after the break that we now have there is still a lot of cricket left to be played in the competition and our sights are firmly set on promotion in the county championship."

Looking forward to tomorrow's National League game at Bath against Northamptonshire Steelbacks who are unbeaten in the competition, the Sabres have added teenage pace bowler Michael Parsons who is likely to play in place of the injured McLean and Carl Gazzard to the squad.