De Bruyn leads Somerset spree

Zander de Bruyn continued his impressive LV County Championship form with 81 to lead Somerset to maximum batting points in the Division One match against Kent at Taunton.

The South African fell 19 short of what would have been a third successive century in the competition as his side ran up 427 all out after being asked to bat by Kent skipper Robert Key.

Marcus Trescothick (58), Justin Langer (50), Peter Trego (65) and Ian Blackwell (55) were the other main contributors for the hosts.

Kent were left with five overs to bat at the end of the day and lost Joe Denly, nightwatchman Martin Saggers and Key in reaching 13 for three - with Charl Willoughby claiming two wickets.

It was a tough day for the Kent bowlers. Off-spinner James Tredwell was hit for seven sixes in picking up 2-94 from 21 overs and seamer Robbie Joseph sent down 12 no-balls.

The visitors were without opening bowler Yasir Arafat for most of the day as he was forced to leave the field with stomach cramps after a four-over spell at the start of play.

Trescothick and Langer got Somerset off to a flyer, taking 63 off the first 10 overs.

Zander de Bruyn was one of five Somerset players to pass 50 during the opening day

There was precious little movement off the seam on a greenish pitch as Trescothick breezed to his half-century off 68 balls, with two sixes and seven fours.

The scoreboard read 109 for one after the former England opener pushed firmly at a ball from Saggers, who finished with 3-84, and was picked up in the slips by Justin Kemp.

Langer’s half-century occupied just 56 deliveries and also featured seven fours. But he quickly followed Trescothick, caught behind off Joseph - and when James Hildreth fell to Saggers for four it was 124 for three.

Somerset, however, continued to play positively after lunch through de Bruyn and Trego, who added 120 in 21 overs.

Trego hit two sixes and seven fours in a 54-ball half-century, while de Bruyn was more measured in reaching his fifty off 104 deliveries.

The Kolpak signing was following centuries against Yorkshire and Durham and again looked in fine touch.

The fall of Trego came on 244, but there was no respite for Kent as Blackwell came in to join the run spree.

Just before tea de Bruyn gloved a catch behind off Saggers, having hit 10 fours and a six in his 125-ball stay.

Blackwell became the fifth batsman to reach a half-century, off 69 balls, with a six and six fours, but soon afterwards skied a catch to midwicket.

Craig Kieswetter made 35 before finding short mid-on and the second new ball accounted for Steffan Jones, Ben Phillips and Alfonso Thomas.

In overcast conditions at the end of the day Denly was lbw to a Willoughby inswinger, Saggers was bowled by Jones playing down the wrong line and Key edged Willoughby to wicketkeeper Kieswetter, who held the catch at the second attempt.