Somerset on top

Marcus Trescothick was in prime form © Getty Images

Marcus Trescothick hammered 153 not out and Neil Edwards 133 as Somerset gave Leicestershire a first day nightmare in the LV County Championship Division Two match at Taunton.

The visitors could muster only 168 all out after winning the toss and electing to bat on a green pitch. Steffan Jones returned 6-61, his best figures for Somerset, while Andy Caddick claimed 3-64.

The ball had seamed around, but it looked a different track when Trescothick and Edwards replied with an opening stand of 233.

James Hildreth added an unbeaten 55 as Somerset closed on 357 for one, with a lead of 189 and seven bonus points already in the bag.

Edwards outscored his more illustrious partner and reached his ton first, off 114 balls, with 19 fours, out of a total of 178.

Trescothick was content to give him most of the strike and moved to his own century later, having faced only 111 deliveries.

The two left-handers dominated the Leicestershire attack as hot sunshine drew the morning’s moisture from the pitch, making Darren Robinson’s decision to bat after winning the toss look highly suspect.

But Robinson was entitled to some sympathy. Gloucestershire had been defeated after inserting Somerset on a green looking pitch in the previous Championship game at Taunton.

Steffan Jones claimed six wickets for Somerset

Edwards, fresh from a pair in the previous championship game with Middlesex at Lord’s, looked in prime form.

The 23-year-old Cornishman had faced 141 balls and extended his boundary count to 24 when caught low down at backward point off Masters.

Trescothick continued to blossom after Edwards was out and by stumps had faced 157 deliveries, hitting 22 fours.

It was a mature innings, which again emphasised the loss to England caused by his stress problems. Hildreth's 60-ball half-century contributed to an unbroken stand of 124.

Somerset have been seeking ways of making their pitches more helpful to the bowlers and even spent £10,000 resurfacing their square last autumn.

Now it seems heavy watering might provide the solution - at least in the early stages of games.

At the beginning of the day Caddick and Charl Willoughby (1-20) made inroads before Jones got to work from the River End, ripping out the middle order with the help of two catches by wicket-keeper Craig Kieswetter and one by Trescothick at second slip.

The Welshman also pinned Paul Nixon and David Masters lbw and had last man Nick Walker caught by Edwards after he had blasted six fours in a 19-ball thrash.

Tom New (33), HD Ackerman (23), Arno Jacobs (22), James Allenby (20) and Paul Nixon (21) all got starts without being able to play a major innings.

Leicestershire’s day of woe was only just beginning.