Championship Rewind: Warwickshire v Somerset, 2014

When Somerset visited Edgbaston in the county championship in 2014, they faced a young Warwickshire batsman called Sam Hain for the first time.

The game was heavily rain-affected and petered out into a draw but the 18-year-old, in only his second first class match, showed his class with a diligent 32 in a stand of 87 with Will Porterfield.

When Somerset arrived at Edgbaston the following year, Hain, though still only two days past his 20th birthday, was playing his 18th first class match. Redolent of Gladstone Small in a previous era, he was filling a key role in the team which usually fell upon players of far greater experience.

He could handle it. The westcountrymen found out just how well he could handle it.

Somerset chose to bat but totalled only 265 against a high class attack led by Jeetan Patel (five for 89), Chris Woakes (three for 48) and Rikki Clarke (two for 21). The pitch was a good cricket wicket, offering something to all bowlers, so required skilful batting...and that is what Hain offered when the Bears replied.

After Ian Westwood (66) and Jonathan Trott (87) laid a solid platform, Hain held together the middle and lower orders which struggled against Alfonso Thomas and Craig Overton,

While the potentially power-laden six, seven, eight, nine of Tim Ambrose, Clarke, Woakes and Keith Barker made just 14 between them, Hain dug in until support arrived. When it did, in the form of a merry 41 from Patel, the young batsman advanced to an accomplished century, ending with an unbeaten 103 in just over four hours from 169 balls with 12 fours.

Hain's craftsmanship lifted Warwickshire to 365 all out, a lead of 100, and that bowling attack then delivered again. Patel (nine for 136 in the match) and Clarke took four wickets apiece and though Tom Abell, playing only his 13th championship match, batted through the innings for 88, Somerset totalled only 170.

Needing 71 to win, the Bears wobbled to 36 for three before Hain arrived to fittingly see them home. The young batsman had put in a thoroughly senior player's performance. Reports from Arbroath indicated that here was a guy who would win many games for the Bears.

Those reports were spot on...Hain will face Somerset this week still only 25 years old but already with 201 games for the Bears in senior cricket, 8,562 runs and countless match-winning performances in his locker. A class act.