Somerset bowled out for 488

Somerset's first innings ended 25 minutes before lunch on the second day when they were bowled out for 488. Top scorer Keith Parsons remained undefeated on 193, an innings which contained 22 boundaries and one 6.

Resuming from their overnight 390-6 Somerset's not out batsmen Parsons and Jason Kerr looked to seize the initiative early and elevate their side to a potentially match-winning first innings total.

During the West Indies last tour of the UK in 1995 Kerr scored 80 against them at taunton. Sadly his batting has stagnated somewhat and he yet to better that score. He began confidently on the second morning though, driving Nixon McLean straight for four and then slashing high over the slips for another boundary.

Those two shots helped lift the county side beyond 400, the first side to do so this summer and the first time ever that Somerset have done it against the West Indies. With Reon King off the fielding - nursing a bruised instep - and Corey Collymore also mysteriously absent, Roger Harper, the West Indies' coach, reminded us of a bygone era with some athletic stops and fine throwing from the deep.

The tourists had perhaps expected to swiftly wrap up the Somerset innings on the second day but Parsons and Kerr had other ideas as they stretched their stand past 70.

Nine years ago South African Jimmy Cook hit 162, the highest individual score by a Somerset batsmen against the West Indies, and he was expunged from the record books as Parsons went past him with a clip to midwicket.

With the score on 422 Nixon McLean, in his 23rd over, at last picked up his first wicket. Kerr, having made an accomplished 32, steered a sharply-lifting delivery into the bucket-like hands of Lara at first slip.

Adrian Pierson hung around for 20 balls (during which he only made a single) before he nicked one to 'keeper Phillip, again off McLean. That brought 20 year old Joe Tucker in for his debut innings, which began with a McLean 'throat ball'. A clumsily-conceded bye enabled him to escape to the relative sanctuary of Nagamootoo's end, allowing Parsons to smash the quickie down the ground for 4.

It was from the bowling of McLean that Tucker eventually got his first run, dabbing him on the on-side for a single. His next scoring shot almost brought his downfall - a dash for the line just beating Adrian Griffith's direct hit from midwicket. Visibly growing in confidence he then pulled McLean square to bring up the 450.

After bowling 12 consecutive from the River End Nixon McLean gave way to Wavell Hinds and the switch brought instant success as Tucker feathered hi first ball to Phillip for an encouraging 14.

Last man Jamie Grove hung around to add 17 valuable runs but with Parsons in sight of a double-ton he lost his middle stump to Hinds, who finished with 3-32.