Century from Compton keeps Notts trapped in mid-table

Nottinghamshire 492 & 41-2 Somerset 386 & 426 (Match drawn)

These counties began the season as title favourites yet their only interest now is in mid-table safety, which probably explains why this contest – illuminated earlier by centuries from Craig Kieswetter, James Hildreth and Alex Hales – was allowed to drift to a draw.

There was potential for an interesting finish when Somerset's lead, 91 overnight, stood at 250 with around 50 overs left in the match, but it was passed up. By the time they were bowled out, only 34 overs remained for Nottinghamshire to chase 321 and there was no reluctance to shake hands at five o'clock.

Appropriately, the centrepiece of a largely uneventful day was a largely uneventful hundred from Nick Compton. The 28-year-old Somerset batsman has struggled to maintain the standards of his first full season at Middlesex, when his 1,315 first-class runs included six centuries.

He ground out 115 here over six and a half hours, backed up well by Chris Jones, who made a tidy 55 in only his second Championship innings, and Adam Dibble, who marked his first-class debut with a cheery 39 not out, which included two sixes.

Stuart Broad's bowling was again a mixed bag. If nothing else, the England speedster proved he has stamina – his 53.4 overs is the most he has ever bowled in one match.