Bairstow ton leads battling Yorkshire

Somerset 7 for 0 v Yorkshire 358
Scorecard

Jonny Bairstow's memorable start to the season continued with his second first-class century as Yorkshire were dismissed for 358 on the opening day of the County Championship match with Somerset at Taunton.

The 21-year-old wicketkeeper smacked 25 boundaries in making 136 off 169 balls and shared a fifth-wicket stand of 167 with Gary Ballance, who made 61, after the visitors had been reduced to 138 for 4.

Somerset's bowlers stuck to their task well in bright sunshine after Yorkshire had won the toss. Charl Willoughby finished with three for 90, Gemaal Hussain three for 87 and Steve Kirby three for 54 against his old club. By the close the home side had replied with seven for no wicket.

Bairstow, who scored a double hundred against Notts earlier this month, already has 565 first-class runs to his name from nine innings at an average of over 70. His latest effort was needed, despite a promising Yorkshire start which saw Joe Root and Adam Lyth put on 56 for the first wicket before Root, on 19, was caught at second slip by Marcus Trescothick, driving at Hussain.

It was 67 for 2 when Anthony McGrath dabbed at a wide ball from Peter Trego, having hit the previous two deliveries for four, and edged a catch to wicketkeeper Jos Buttler. Somerset looked to be getting on top as with only a further eight runs added Lyth (39) was superbly caught above his head by Hildreth at first slip, cutting at Hussain.

During the afternoon session Yorkshire lost captain Andrew Gale with the total on 138 as he nicked a lifter from Steve Kirby through to Buttler. But that was Somerset's only success as Bairstow flayed anything loose to pick up a series of handsome boundaries, while Ballance lent solid support.

Bairstow reached his half-century off 83 balls, with 10 fours, and then accelerated to three figures, the second fifty occupying only 53 deliveries and featuring eight more boundaries. By the tea break the visitors had moved onto 262 for four off 64 overs, Bairstow reaching his hundred in the final over before the interval.

But the final session belonged to Somerset as Willoughby bowled Bairstow and trapped Adil Rashid lbw with successive deliveries, getting the ball to swing in late. Ballance had reached his half-century off 99 balls, with eight fours, but also fell in Willoughby's inspired spell, caught behind. Ryan Sidebottom was also picked up by Buttler off Hussain as Yorkshire slipped to 331 for eight.

Kirby then pinned Ajmal Shahzad lbw for 27 and had Oliver Hannon-Dalby caught behind. The last six wickets had fallen for 53 runs.