Somerset v Derbyshire, Day 1

Somerset wasted a good start by openers Jamie Cox and Marcus Trescothick on a rain-affected opening day to the PPP healthcare County Championship first division match with Derbyshire at Taunton.

The decision of Derbyshire captain Dominic Cork to put Somerset into bat appeared to be going wrong as Cox and Trescothick comfortably compiled a stand of 69 in 19 overs.

But by the time rain arrived just after lunch to end play for the day, Derbyshire's all-seam attack had bowled the midlands county back into the game with Somerset on 117-4 from 40 overs.

Cork's decision to field first was probably influenced by the persistent rain on Tuesday. But there proved to be no dampness in a brown coloured pitch and Cox and Trescothick endured few problems in the opening hour's play.

Trescothick, in particular, played fluently as he continued his good start to the season. With a century behind him from the last championship match at Leicester, Trescothick struck four on-side boundaries in his 61-ball innings of 30.

The former England under-19 captain was finally undone by Trevor Smith, who cut a delivery away from the left-hander off the seam. Cork grasped the chance at first slip.

In the following over, Derbyshire were again celebrating as Kevin Dean claimed the prized wicket of Somerset skipper Cox.

Dean, just back from injury, strayed in direction down the legside, but Cox got a faint touch and wicketkeeper Karl Krikken took a fine tumbling catch.

From there on, Derbyshire seized back the iniative. As the clouds gathered over the County Ground, their experienced battery of pace bowlers swung the ball and caution became the name of the game for Somerset.

Piran Holloway occasionally broke the stranglehold to strike four fours in his innings of 23. But his resistance was ended by Paul Aldred shortly before lunch, when an inside edge on to his thigh pad resulted in a looping catch by Michael Di Venuto at second slip.

Somerset reached 115-3 from 35 overs at the interval and only two runs were added in 20 minutes play after it.

The home side also suffered the loss of Mike Burns, who has seen the runs start to dry up after a productive start to the season.

Burns had made only one when he mistimed a pull at Tim Munton and Krikken, standing up to the former Warwickshire man, took a fine catch at the second attempt down the legside.

Steady rain for the next two hours finally led to play being abandoned by umpires Jeremy Lloyds and Ken Palmer at 4.30pm.

When it resumes, Derbyshire will be anxious to see the back of Peter Bowler, who has made a habit of compiling big scores against his former county since he joined Somerset six years ago.

Bowler ended the day unbeaten on 18 with wicketkeeper Rob Turner yet to get off the mark at the other end.

Although the four wickets have been shared by four bowlers, Aldred could take most credit for bringing Derbyshire back into the game. His six overs so far have cost just three runs.