'It was a quality knock byJamie Cox' says Shine as Cidermen finish in a strong position

Somerset ended the second day of their championship match at Derby in a strong position after a painstaking century by Jamie Cox helped them to a first innings lead of 207. By the close of play the hosts had reached 38 runs without loss in their second innings.

Resuming this morning on 60 for 2, the overnight pair of Cox and Marcus Trescothick took the score 154 before Trescothick was caught and bowled for 69 by Graeme Welch. The England left hander was at the wicket nearly 4 ¾ hours and faced 143 deliveries.

Cox then shared a fourth wicket partnership of 86 with James Bryant (26) and a fifth wicket partnership of 90 with Aaron Laraman (24) until with his score on 126, he gave a catch to wicket-keeper Luke Sutton off Dominic Cork.

The Tasmanian had batted for over 5 ½ hours and received 276 balls in his innings that included 15 x 4's.

Rob Turner and Nixon McLean added some quick runs at the end of the innings and put on 50 for the last wicket with McLean batting in his usual style taking 12 from 11 deliveries that included 1x6 and 1x4.

By the time that Somerset were all out for 397, a lead of 227 over their opponents, Turner had taken his score onto 32 not out.

In the six overs of the day that remained the Derbyshire openers Michael DiVenuto and Andy Gait had taken the score onto 38.

After the close of play Somerset coach Kevin Shine said: "I'm very pleased with the way that things have gone for us today and Jamie Cox has batted very well for us. His innings was exactly what we needed, he was watchful in the difficult conditions and his concentration was really excellent, it was a quality knock."

"Tomorrow we will be looking to bowl them out as cheaply as we can and go for our second successive championship victory," he added.