Chris Rogers digs in with double century to save match against Somerset and ease Middlesex's relegation worries

                 Somerset (523-9 dec) drew with Middlesex (223 & 328-4 dec)

In a cricketing world enthralled by strike rates and T20 sixes, the art of stubborn, endurance batting, accumulating hundreds to frustrate the opposition, has perhaps gone out of fashion.

But to the greats of that old genre – the Wall, the Barnacle, and of course, Sir Geoffrey – should be added the name of Chris Rogers, the immovable Australian nugget.

On a day made for him to rivet himself to the Taunton pitch, Rogers did not disappoint. An unbeaten 203 sucked the life out of a game Middlesex seemed destined to lose and almost single-handedly ensured the visitors held firm against the relegation jitters on this final day.

In seven-and-a-half hours, facing 386 balls, the 37-year-old nudged, glanced and drove the Somerset bowlers to submission – using his feet to dead bat the spinners with particular skill – in making his 11th double hundred. It was also the 70th century of his career; making him, with West Indian Shivnarine Chanderpaul, the most prolific century-maker still playing the game.

“It’s something I never expected when I was younger,” said the bespectacled Rogers, as understated off the pitch as he is on it. “I guess I’m not as fluent or talented as other players in many respects, so I’ve got to rely upon other things like decision making, intelligence, and the willingness to fight. I play my best innings when I’m up against it – and I was starting to feel the heat here.”

After Somerset had amassed 523 in the first innings, Middlesex capitulated to 67 for seven by the close of the second day.

“That was probably rock bottom,” Rogers said. “There was a lot of criticism flying around and as a captain you have to throw some of that criticism to the players. But to be able to do that you also have to stand up yourself. That is something I can be proud of.”

The draw puts Middlesex 19 points ahead of Lancashire, their final opponents, in the fight against relegation. They are now favourites to stay up, despite being open to the elements of a pitch tailored for a result at Old Trafford next week.

“We couldn’t afford a loss,” Rogers said. “If we hadn’t got anything out of this game, and then gone to Manchester next week, it would have been wide open. This has changed things a bit.”

For Somerset fans, watching their team toil in the field for more than 200 overs as Middlesex followed on, it was the kind of situation which made them thankful for the snooze-accommodating cinema seats in the Old Pavilion.

They will be sorely missed, and a crowd of 250 supporters stayed to mark the official demise of the building, constructed in 1881, which is being torn down as of next week to be replaced by a £3.8 million building.

There was a noticeable lack of ceremony, by comparison, to bid farewell at his last home game to Dave Nosworthy, Somerset’s director of cricket, who is departing 18 months into a three-year contract. Ashley Giles is understood to be leading a three-horse race to replace him against former Somerset captain Jamie Cox and Matthew Maynard.