Somerset v Middlesex: Chris Rogers double ton secures draw

Rogers has scored 1,279 Championship runs for Middlesex this summer at an average of 58.13

Middlesex captain Chris Rogers batted throughout the final day for an unbeaten double century to stave off the threat of defeat by Somerset.

The game at Taunton ended as a draw when he declared with his side 328-4.

Australia Test opener Rogers, who shared a stand of 144 with Joe Denly (60) hit 29 fours in his 203 not out.

The draw means Middlesex will go into next week's relegation decider against Lancashire with a 19-point advantage over their Red Rose rivals.

Victory or a draw at Old Trafford will keep them in Division One for the 2015 season - and they can also afford to lose and still stay up, providing they earn at least six bonus points.

Middlesex resumed on 140-1, having followed on 300 runs in arrears, and immediately lost Dawid Malan, who edged spinner Joe Leach to Marcus Trescothick at slip.

But Rogers reached three figures off 156 balls with a boundary off Alfonso Thomas and Denly batted sensibly to register only his third half century of a disappointing Championship campaign.

There was a slight wobble when Denly was lbw to Craig Overton, who then bowled Eoin Morgan for a duck in his next over.

Rogers, however, was unruffled and struck Leach for four to bring up his double hundred and the two captains shook hands on the draw at the end of the same over.

Middlesex skipper Chris Rogers told BBC London 94.9:

"If we hadn't got anything out of this game we would have gone to Manchester next week with things wide open, so we couldn't afford to lose.

"It was good for me to again be the guy who stood up for Middlesex because I am very proud to play for this club.

"After day two we really hit rock bottom, and there was a lot of criticism flying around.

"As captain you have to stand there and throw some of that criticism yourself, so to do that, you have to stand up yourself and I'm incredibly proud of that.

"We can expect a result pitch at Old Trafford, but Lancashire need to make 400, so it will be interesting.

"There may be an element of safety in our approach, but we have to go there and get a result."