A gloomy and overcast day off the field was brightened up by a sparkling innings of 196 from Matthew Wood at the County Ground where Somerset ended the day 433 for 5 in their vital championship match against Kent.

The twenty year old Devonian from Exmouth was in superb form as he cut and drove the Kent attack, who included Aussie star Steve Waugh, himself a former Somerset player, in their line up.

Kent won the toss and put the Cidermen into bat, a decision they must have regretted as Jamie Cox and Wood put on 150 before the skipper was dismissed for 62.

Mike Burns was out cheaply which brought the veteran Peter Bowler to the wicket. Together the oldest and youngest players in the side put on 98 until just before tea Bowler was out for 31.

Keith Parsons and Wood pushed the score along quickly and both played some expansive shots. One classic cover drive by Parsons off Amjad Khan who was bowling with the second new ball pierced the field and left the Kent players as mere onlookers as it sped to the boundary.

Wood brought up the hundred partnership in the ninety second over and seemed to be moving towards his first double century in the first class game until he tried to clip a ball over to the mid wicket boundary and was caught by David Masters, just four short of what would have been a thoroughly deserved milestone.

With Parsons the young opener had added 121 for the fourth wicket to put his side in a strong position at 396 for 4.

Parsons followed shortly afterwards, but before the end the good sized crowd were treated to some lusty blows from Ian Blackwell who particularly punished Min Patel on his way to an unbeaten 30 at the close of play.

At the end of the day Kevin Shine told me: "This was an exceptional knock from Matt Wood, and how unlucky he was to be out just four runs short of his double hundred. We have had a good day and we are still in the ascendancy which is very pleasing. We scored good runs out there on a good paced wicket and we have still got some very attacking batsmen still to come."

He continued: "We have to be looking at getting 550 or even more depending on what happens tomorrow which will put us in a strong position. However we have got a tricky little first session in the morning."

The coach continued: "This has been a tough few weeks for us and it has been nice to see them bounce straight. This has been a thoroughly professional performance from the lads today."

A delighted Matt Wood told me: "I really am very happy with the way that I batted today, its just a bit of a shame I didn't get to two hundred. Peter Bowler and Keith Parsons helped me to keep my concentration out there, and I had a bit of luck, which makes a change because we haven't had too much of that this season."

© SOMERSET