White blasts double ton

Cameron White on Wednesday

The second double century of Cameron White’s career put Somerset in a strong position on the opening day of the LV County Championship match with arch-rivals Gloucestershire at Taunton.

Coming in at 65 for three after the visitors had won the toss, the 23-year-old Australian batted with great maturity to score an unbeaten 201 off 282 balls with a six and 28 fours to help his side to 412 for six at the close.

White received good support from James Hildreth (60) and Peter Trego (48).

Gloucestershire made early inroads on a green looking pitch, but their injury-hit seam attack eventually faced a tough day in hot sunshine.

The bowling was wayward at times and White twice hit four boundaries in an over off Carl Greenidge, who ended the day with 3-103 from 21 overs.

But it was a different story at the start after Alex Gidman, clearly influenced by the green tinge of the pitch, bravely inserted Somerset at a ground where two totals of 800 have already been made this season.

Carl Greenidge was dangerous for Gloucestershire

Marcus Trescothick, Neil Edwards and Justin Langer all fell cheaply to Anthony Ireland, Mark Hardinges and Greenidge respectively.

Langer waited at the crease a long time after being given out caught behind by umpire Mike Harris. There was also a shake of the head from the Aussie who later apologised to both officials.

It was 130 for three at lunch with already a suspicion that the bat was about to dominate again. After the interval Hildreth went to 50 off 64 balls, with 10 fours, and White followed suit, having faced 54 deliveries and hit 11 boundaries.

Gloucestershire kept persevering and were rewarded when Hardinges knocked back the top of Hildreth’s middle stump to make it 186 for four. Somerset still had work to do when, with only 17 runs added, Ian Blackwell tamely guided a catch to backward point off Greenidge and departed for two.

But White had looked solid from the start of his innings, sensibly reining himself back when wickets fell and slowly, but surely, guiding his team out of trouble.

His century came off 146 balls, with 17 fours, and he didn’t give a chance until he had reached 149. Then Hamish Marshall spilled a sharp catch in the gully off Greenidge.

White went to 150 with his 23rd boundary off the next delivery. By then his innings also included a six over long-on off Gidman and he had faced 203 balls.

Trego proved a steady and reliable partner in a sixth-wicket stand of 157 before being caught at slip with the score 360 for six. He had faced 108 balls and struck six fours.

White’s only other first class match against Gloucestershire was at the start of last season and saw him score 172 on his Somerset debut at Bristol.

He also hit 116 against the Gladiators in the Twenty20 Cup.