Bowler falls just short of his century as Cidermen end the day ahead at Hove

Somerset ended the second day of their championship match against Sussex at Hove on 380 for 8, a first innings lead of 43.

At the end of the day coach Kevin Shine told me: "Overall I'm happy with our performance, lots of positive things have come out of the day. "

He continued: "Peter Bowler played a great knock, and was very disappointed to get out just six runs short of his hundred. He's a true professional, and didn't like getting out the way that he did."

The coach went on: " The boys played well to get that total. There were some good individual knocks. Both the openers Jamie Cox and Matt Wood played really well to put on over a hundred, it was just a pity that we lost some cheap wickets at the end of the day."

What were the plans for the morning I asked. Kevin told me: "We will bat on for as long as we can. Both Richard Johnson and Matt Bulbeck can score runs."

Had the coach asked for a replacement twelfth man to be sent up for the Sussex second innings I asked. Kevin Shine told me: "Simon Francis will field, and if needs be I will be on standby to do the twelfth man duties!"