North puts Derbyshire in charge

Marcus North

A century on his first Liverpool Victoria County Championship appearance for Derbyshire by Marcus North helped the visitors to 374 for nine on the opening day at Taunton.

The Australian left-hander hit 132 off 155 balls, with 22 fours, sharing a third-wicket stand of 145 with Chris Taylor, who made 60 after skipper Graeme Welch had won the toss.

But from 244 for three, Derbyshire let Somerset back into the game.

Simon Francis took 3-44 in a 13-over spell either side of tea, while Andy Caddick finished with 3-91 and Charl Willoughby 3-96.

An unbroken stand of 56 for the last wicket between former Somerset player Steffan Jones and Ian Hunter meant the day ended with honours pretty even.

It had begun with good opening spells from Caddick and Willoughby, which reduced Derbyshire to 30 for two with both wickets falling to the South African left-armer.

Steve Stubbings and Michael Di Venuto both fell to defensive shots, caught behind by wicket-keeper Carl Gazzard and first slip Keith Parsons respectively.

But North and Taylor then settled in on a typical Taunton track, making the most of hot sunshine and a rapid outfield to build a sound partnership.

North hit 10 fours in reaching his half-century and by lunch they had taken the total to 120 for two, with Taylor unbeaten on 42.

He followed his partner to the 50 mark off 108 balls, with a six and six fours.

But with the total on 175 Taylor fended off a short delivery from Caddick and was caught at short-leg by John Francis, who had replaced the injured James Hildreth in the Somerset side.

The powerful North never gave a chance in reaching his century off 127 balls, extending his boundary count to 16.

It was 244 for four when he drove loosely at Simon Francis and was caught behind by Gazzard.

From there Derbyshire gave away some loose wickets.

Francis followed up by having Hassan Adnan caught down the leg-side by Gazzard for 20 and after the same contribution Welch was held by Parsons above his head at first slip.

Then Caddick returned to dismiss Graham Wagg and Andy Gray in the space of three balls.

When Willoughby had David Pipe caught at extra cover by John Francis for 24 it was 318 for nine and Derbyshire looked to have blown a strong position.

But last man Hunter was missed in the slips by Justin Langer before he had scored with the total on 328 and it proved an expensive miss.

Hunter and Jones guided their side to a fourth batting point and will continue their enterprising resistance in the morning.