'James Bryant looks a quality bat' says Shine as Cidermen draw at Hampshire

Somerset will have been heartened by the teams batting display at the Hampshire Rosebowl today, where they were 368 for 8, when the match ended in a draw.

Resuming on 39 for 1, Piran Holloway was the first wicket to fall after the Cornishman had scored 48.

Coming in at number four new signing James Bryant gave an impressive display, putting on 80 for the third wicket with Matt Wood before the opener was out for 57.

Bryant played a patient innings before he was next man out for 78, which contained 3 x 6's and 10 x 4's, putting on 72 for the fourth wicket with Ian Blackwell.

Playing his first innings for the county since returning from World Cup duty, `Blackie' scored 69 runs from 81 deliveries, which included 2 x 6's and 8 x 4's.

West Indian pacemen Nixon McLean came in towards the end of the innings and enjoyed himself at the crease against many of his former team mates hitting 16 runs from 15 balls, which included 1 x 6 and 1 x 4.

Following the close of play Somerset coach Kevin Shine told me: "I set the team the challenge of batting through the day and they have met that well. There were some decent runs from Matt Wood and James Bryant, who is really starting to be comfortable in English conditions and looks a quality bat .Ian Blackwell also had his first innings in six weeks and it looked like he had never been away judging by the way that he batted today.

He continued: "It's our target to bat on wickets like the Rosebowl, that is very different to Taunton, so what has happened today has been a good preparation and I am very pleased with the way that things have gone for us."