Somerset go top

IN GOLFING terms, Somerset are the clubhouse leaders in the English County Championship as the three-way tussle for honours between them, Middlesex and Yorkshire goes down to today’s thrilling climax. The cider county, who have never won the championship, thrashed Nottinghamshire by 325 runs at Taunton yesterday to pick up 23 points. But Yorkshire and Middlesex can still pip them to the title if either side wins their clash at Lord’s. Middlesex start the final day of the season on 81/2 in their second innings, still 39 runs behind Yorkshire. Both sides know that a draw will hand Somerset the title. Meanwhile, former Australia batsman Chris Rogers, 39, announced his retirement from first-class cricket at Taunton yesterday after he had scored a hundred in each innings for Somerset. – Sports Reporter