The first days play at Taunton ended with Sussex in a strong position in reply to Somerset's first innings total of 270.

In the morning, after winning the toss and batting first, the Somerset openers Jamie Cox (27) and Matthew Wood(31) got their side off to a solid start sharing a stand of 51 before the first wicket fell.

By the time that the hundred was brought up Somerset had lost a further two wickets, and when Ian Blackwell was out in the 31st over lunch was taken with the score on 116 for 5.

Wednesday's Man of the Match hero Keith Parsons steadied the innings, and took Somerset on to 138 before Turner was adjudged LBW to Jason Lewry. Parsons stayed to see up the 150 but one run later he became another of Lewry's victims when he was bowled for 17.

With the score on 153 for 7 new batsman Pete Trego joined Keith Dutch , and brought up the 200 in the 48th over, before Trego was out for a hard hit 26.

The Cidermen slipped to 207 for 9 when Dutch was out for 30, which brought Steffan Jones and Matt Bulbeck together.

The last pair batted sensibly together, with Bulbeck hitting some lusty blows including a big six over the stand and into the River Tone, which had the umpires racing back to the pavilion in search of a replacement ball.

Bulbeck brought up the 250 with a four through mid wicket, then passed the fifty partnership as a result of four overthrows.

The left armer, who has enjoyed a good comeback to form then went onto to score his own half century, which he made from 64 balls, and which included 2 x 6's and 6 x 4's, before his partner was caught by wicket-keeper Tim Ambrose off Lewry.

At the end of the innings Bulbeck remained unbeaten on 53, and was warmly applauded off the field by a large crowd.

After the close of play Somerset coach Kevin Shine told me: "This was our first average championship display at Taunton. We were looking for batsmen to get a start and then build an inngs which didn't happen today. The later batsmen, Matt Bulbeck, Pete Trego and Keith Dutch all did well for us to help us to our total, but we wont get out as cheaply as that when we bat a second time."

He concluded: "Tomorrow we will keep it tight and concentrate on bowling them out for as small a total as possible."

© SOMERSET