Somerset ended the first day of their county championship match against Leicestershire at Taunton in a strong position.

Havingwon the toss and batted all day the Cidermen closed on 376 for 3 and look well set to continue to build an even larger score tomorrow.

Jamie Cox (176) was the star performer with the bat today, and shared in an opening partnership of 184 with Matthew Wood, and then put on 114 with Mike Burns (52).

The Somerset skipper was eventually dismissed by Darren Maddy shortly before the close of play, leaving Peter Bowler unbeaten on 45 and Keith Parsons on 7.

After the close of play Somerset coach Kevin Shine told me: "This was an excellent professional batting performance today. Jamie Cox is a class act and batted as well as I have ever seen him, and Peter Bowler is looking good."

Earlier in the day the Somerset skipper had shared an opening partnership of 184 with Matthew Wood, who was playing in his first championship match this season. Referring to the young opener the coach said: "Woody batted well, he scored at a good tempo and looked to be in good nick"

What were the plans for tomorrow I asked the coach. He told me: "We will bat as long as we can tomorrow, we can't let go of a position like this."

© SOMERSET