Burns fires Somerset to imposing total

Mike Burns savaged the Yorkshire attack to hit a career-best 162 not out as Somerset dominated the opening day of the Bath Festival after losing the toss.

Burns shared a stand of 206 with skipper Jamie Cox, which was a Somerset record for the second wicket against Yorkshire. By the close he had faced 283 balls, hitting 19 fours and a six, in beating his previous highest score of 160 against Oxford University.

Cox overcame a sketchy start to hit 95 and there was an impressive debut from 20-year-old Devonian Matthew Wood, who finished 60 not out, having shared an unbroken stand of 139 with Burns, which took the total to an imposing 371-2 off 104 overs.

Yorkshire skipper David Byas must have regretted his decision to field yet it had looked sound enough during a morning ession in which his bowlers enjoyed little luck.

Gavin Hamilton send back Piran Holloway for five with the total on 26 and a key moment came at 54-1 when Cox was badly dropped by James Middlebrook at first slip off the aggressive Steven Kirby, having made only 20.

Burns was caught behind off a no-ball on five and the two reprieves were capitalised on in style. Cox had hit 15 boundaries when he was finally picked up by Byas at slip trying to force Gary Fellows through the offside.

The pitch lost all trace of its early life in the afternoon and Burns made majestic progress. Having taken 147 balls to reach 50 he need only a further 119 deliveries to race past 150.

Wood leant excellent support after the departure of Cox. His first two scoring strikes in Championship cricket were boundaries and he reached his maiden half-century with an eighth four, handsomely lifting Middlebrook over mid-off.

Somerset coach Kevin Shine spoke highly of Wood, saying: "Matthew played very well indeed, and I was very impressed. It's the first time I've seen him in a match situation. He was very calm and very assured - and he's not finished yet."