Somerset batter Tom Banton braved an injury to walk out at No. 11 during a crucial County Championship game against Surrey in Taunton. After scoring a stunning 132 in the first innings, Banton came to the team's rescue in the second innings when they were reeling at 153-9.
Beginning the innings trailing by four runs, Somerset lost their way, courtesy of Shakib Al Hasan's four-fer. To make matters worse, Banton was unavailable to bat at No. 5 after rolling his ankle during warm-up ahead of Day 3. He was seen on crutches, and scheduled to undergo an MRI scan on Thursday, September 12, to assess the damage.
However, with Somerset's lead only marginal after Jack Leach's dismissal, Banton joined Craig Overton in the middle. He limped severely en route to the crease and leaned on his bat. Since he could not put any stress on the injured ankle, his strokes did not have any foot movement.
As far as running between the wickets was concerned, he was given a runner. Banton's sacrifice has proven vital as he has contributed with an unbeaten run-a-ball 28 with four boundaries to his name. The last wicket-wicket partnership between him and Overton worth 41 runs has also stretched the lead to 190 runs.
Have a look at Banton's heroic act right here:
With Somerset placed second in the County Championship Divison One standings, a win over league leaders Surrey would make things interesting in the competition with only a couple of matches left for each side.
Tom Banton has had a blockbuster County Championship season
The right-handed batter, who has been in and out of the national side in the past, is making a serious case to be a part of the transition. After a relatively underwhelming The Hundred 2024 campaign with the Trent Rockets, Tom Banton has been back among the runs following the resumption of red-ball cricket.
Apart from his ton in the first innings against Surrey, he chipped in with fifties against Durham and Northamptonshire. He has amassed 873 runs in the County Championship season at an average of 51.35 and is the competition's 10th-leading run-scorer.
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