Cox century rescues Somerset at Hampshire Rosebowl

Jamie Cox scored an invaluable unbeaten century to rescue his side at the Rosebowl to help Somerset reach 224 for 6 by the end of the first day of their championship match against Hampshire.

After winning the toss and deciding to bat first the Cidermen had slumped to 30 for 3, losing Peter Bowler for 3, Mike Burns for 7 and Matt Wood who was LBW to Chris Tremlett after making 18, and the innings appeared to be in danger of collapsing.

However the former skipper and James Bryant stayed together for nearly two hours to bring up the fifty and looked well set until with the score on 82 Bryant was run out for 18.

Ian Blackwell and Cox saw the hundred up in the 47th over, but after their fifth wicket stand was worth 55, the all rounder gave a caught and bowled chance to Shaun Udall who gratefully accepted to send Blackwell back to the pavilion after scoring 19.

Rob Turner was the new batsman after the tea interval, but after scoring 11 he was bowled by Australian Simon Katich and Somerset had slipped to 162 for 6.

Cox continued to bat with dogged determination and received good support from all rounder Keith Dutch, and just before the close of play went past his century, his first on the new Hampshire ground.

By the end of the day Cox (107 not out) and Dutch (30 not out) had taken their unbeaten seventh wicket stand to 62, and in the morning will be looking to some more valuable runs to the total.

The Tasmanian's marathon innings had seen him at the wicket for just over six hours, during which time he faced 238 balls and scored eight fours.

After the close of play Kevin Shine told me: "This was a great effort, to have recovered from 30 for 3 to end on 224 for 6 is a great effort. It's a hard work wicket out there and they have bowled very well on it."

He continued: "Jamie Cox was excellent, he worked very hard out there, and was pretty weary when he came in but he batted really well which was very pleasing. In the morning we will be looking for these two to carry on and add as many runs as we can, and then give a disciplined bowling performance."

Meanwhile back at the County Ground in Taunton the start of play was delayed because of the rain. When play did eventually get underway in the championship match against Hampshire Seconds the visitors batted first and by the close of play had scored 209 for 4.

For Somerset Renato Almeida, who plays cricket in South Africa for Transvaal, but holds an EU passport had taken 2 for 62, Daniel Rowe a Glamorgan Under 19 player, 1 for 42 and Keith Parsons 1 for 44.