Lawrence hits sixth century as Surrey dominate Somerset opener

Dan Lawrence struck an unbeaten 105 as Surrey closed day one on 327-4 against Somerset at Taunton.

It was a strong start for the visitors in the final Division One match of the season. Division One is the top tier of the County Championship, England's domestic red-ball competition played over four days. Somerset began the game chasing a first-ever Championship title BBC Sport.

Surrey won the toss and batted first on 24 September at the Cooper Associates County Ground. Nearly 3,000 supporters were in the ground. They saw early hope for Somerset, then a long afternoon of toil.

Rory Burns made 31 off 44 balls before he was caught by Tom Abell off Jack Leach. Ryan Patel added 16 before edging Archie Vaughan to slip. Surrey went to lunch on 86-2.

Ollie Pope fell soon after the restart. He was trapped lbw, out without playing a shot, by Lewis Gregory with the score on 131. That brought Lawrence together with Dom Sibley.

Sibley played the anchor role. He reached fifty off 138 balls with eight fours and made 72 off 188 deliveries in all. His dismissal left Surrey on 174-4, glancing Migael Pretorius to Abell at leg-slip, a close-catching position behind the batter.

Lawrence went the other way. He reached his fifty off 86 balls and then opened up. His unbeaten 105 came off 136 balls with nine fours and four sixes. It was his sixth County Championship century of the season.

He found firm support from Ben Foakes. Foakes reached his own fifty off 93 balls and finished on 64 not out. The pair shared a century stand off just 156 balls to take the game away from Somerset late in the day BBC Sport.

Somerset had yet to bat at stumps. Surrey took 2 points to Somerset's 1. Before play, Somerset seamer Pretorius was awarded his county cap.

What makes this stand out is Lawrence's habit of going big. Every time he has passed fifty in red-ball cricket this summer, he has gone on to three figures. Somerset now need early wickets on day two to stop Surrey building a total that could spoil their title dream.