Atherton's first championship century for nearly a year

Mike Atherton's first County Championship century for almost a year was a predictable blend of textbook defence and careful shot selection. Keith Parsons' first five-wicket haul of the season came from just 7.5 overs and was far more difficult to forecast.

The two outstanding individual performances dominated a rain-interrupted, yet fascinating opening day at Taunton, which saw Lancashire bowled out for 239 after losing the toss and Somerset reply confidently with 48-0. While Atherton's 51st first class hundred rolled smoothly off the production line, Parsons' 5-13 lifted a season which had previously seen him take 1-214 from 71.5 overs.

Even the all-rounder himself was surprised. "I don't think I did anything different to normal, yet the batsmen kept getting out," he smiled after career-best figures had ensured Lancashire's last six wickets fell for only 23 runs.

The total was 204-4 when Parsons was first introduced into the attack at the Rover End in the 52nd over, with Atherton and Joe Scuderi comfortably building a fifth-wicket stand of 112.

Scuderi became his first victim with the total on 216 and from then on a mixture of accurate bowling and poor shots produced a sorry procession of visiting batsmen.

Even Atherton himself joined in, playing no shot to a Parsons inswinger that nipped further back off the seam to pin him lbw for 113 after a four-hour stay. Warren Hegg looked unlucky to be judged leg before pushing forward, but there could be no complaints from the other late order batsmen, who failed to show any trace of Atherton's application in the overcast conditions.

By the time Gary Keedy fell to a brilliant one-handed Parsons catch low to his left off his own bowling the day had swung dramatically Somerset's way.

And in the closing stages Jamie Cox and Mark Lathwell cemented the advantage with an untroubled partnership that confirmed the true nature of another blameless Taunton pitch.

The first two sessions had belonged to Atherton, who was unusually aggressive early on, hooking Steffan Jones for two sixes as he reached his half-century before lunch off 73 balls, with 7 fours.

There was not much early support. John Crawley's miserable run continued when his off-stump was sent cartwheeling as he shouldered arms to Jones, while Neil Fairbrother quickly followed, lbw to Graham Rose.

Teenaged seamer Peter Trego celebrated his call-up to the England Under-19 squad with an impressive spell that accounted for Sourav Ganguly and Graham Lloyd, leaving Lancashire 104-4 at lunch.

The best batting of the day came after the interval as Scuderi compiled a Championship-best 46, with seven boundaries, while Atherton progressed with an air of inevitability to his ton.

It was his first in the competition since scoring 268 not out against Glamorgan on July 14 last year and came off 140 balls, with 14 fours and the two sixes. His dismissal, shortly after that of Scuderi to a loose cut shot, came out of the blue and, judging by what followed, Lancashire never recovered from the shock.

There were three short breaks for rain during a day in which heavy clouds were always threatening. But 82.5 overs were bowled and the cricket was never less than absorbing.