Somerset identify costly missed chances after another Championship second place

Somerset captain Lewis Gregory and director of cricket Andy Hurry have identified missed opportunities earlier in the season as key to another County Championship near miss. BBC Sport reported their assessments on Monday after Warwickshire won the title and Somerset finished runners-up for the sixth time since 2010.

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Somerset had led by four points with two matches remaining, but defeat at Headingley in their penultimate fixture handed Warwickshire the advantage. Gregory told BBC Radio Somerset that two mid-season games in which his side held strong positions were particularly costly because they failed to turn those opportunities into wins.

Hurry highlighted consecutive defeats against Yorkshire at Taunton and Glamorgan at Cardiff in May. Yorkshire recovered from a first-innings deficit of 112 to win by 75 runs, while Glamorgan prevailed by two wickets. Speaking to BBC 5Live, Hurry said converting such situations into victories would be a focus for Somerset.

The season nevertheless ended with a major individual achievement in the draw against Surrey at Taunton. According to the ECB Reporters' Network match report carried by BBC Sport, Tom Abell made 307 as Somerset reached 731, their second-highest total. He became the eighth player to score a first-class triple century for the county.

Abell faced 407 deliveries and hit 31 fours and eight sixes during an innings lasting more than nine hours. His ninth-wicket partnership with Migael Pretorius added 195, setting another Somerset record. Pretorius contributed 84, while Tom Lammonby's 229 also helped build the home side's imposing total and a first-innings lead of 309 runs. Abell finished with 1,287 runs for the season, one fewer than Nottinghamshire's Joe Clarke.

Surrey finished their second innings on 127-5 after two interruptions for rain, securing the draw despite Somerset's chance of forcing a result in the final session. Somerset took 13 points and Surrey 12. Gregory's assessment after that match remained positive: he said the squad included young players who would benefit from the season's experience and expressed confidence about the next campaign.