Newton glad to be back on the hundred trail

The number six’s unbeaten 108 formed the backbone of the County’s 297-8 on the first day of the clash with Warwickshire and Newton admitted that the wait, from both a personal and team perspective, has been too lengthy.

He said: “It’s been a long time coming, both for me with my injury last year, it’s going on for two years since I got one, and for the team as well.

“It’s something we’ve spoken a lot about, someone stepping up and making a hundred in the Championship and fortunately it was me today.”

Newton, in conjunction with Andrew Hall, engineered a strong fightback from a dodgy 141-6 and he said that conditions and the home side’s order helped in that regard.

“It was a better wicket once the ball got older,” he added.

“It was certainly easier 50-80 overs rather than the first 30 overs.

“We knew with me and Hally (Andrew Hall) at six and eight and Crooky (Steven Crook) at nine, we knew we batted deep and we managed to turn it round today.”

Not only was Newton’s century his highest, by some distance, of the season, but Hall’s effort was also more like the batsman of old.

And his partner had words of praise for his efforts, saying: “He played nicely. He’s a very safe pair of hands, he’s seen it all before, he’s got so much experience and whereas I was maybe a little jumpy with Jeetan (Patel) bowling so well and lots of maidens, he wass saying it was going to get easier and it did.

“To get through that first period before tea was a big boost and we managed to kick on and score a bit more freely after tea.”