County Championship Division 1: Brendan Taylor cracks century for Notts

Nottinghamshire raced along on day one of their Division One clash with Somerset at Taunton, reaching stumps on 391-6 thanks largely to a fine 152 from Brendan Taylor.

His effort was supplemented by half-centuries from Michael Lumb (73) and Riki Wessels (59no) as the visitors proved their decision to bat in the south-west was a wise one.

Taylor and Steven Mullaney put on 82 for the opening wicket - Mullaney hitting 42 from 60 balls before he was bowled by Abdur Rehman.

Greg Smith could only add 11 before he was bowled by Alfonso Thomas (4-62), but Lumb was fluent on his arrival at the crease and shared a 157-run stand with Taylor either side of lunch to establish Notts' strong position.

Lumb fell just before tea - caught by Jim Allenby off Rehman for 73 - but not before Taylor's hundred came up in just 128 balls courtesy of 16 fours.

Taylor was next to fall at 300-4 - caught brilliantly by Marcus Trescothick off Thomas - and Samit Patel was then trapped in front first ball to give Thomas his third wicket.

Will Gidman survived the hat-trick ball and helped Wessels add 70 for the sixth wicket before falling for 20 to the second new ball - another Trescothick slip catch off Thomas, this time low in front of him.

And Wessels moved fluently to a half-century off 81 balls - with eight fours and a six - to put Notts in sight of maximum batting points on Monday.

Worcestershire hit back in the final session to hold the balance of power after day one of their clash with Warwickshire at New Road.

Having been bowled out for 243 by tea, the hosts then reduced their visitors to 101-4 at the close, with four of the top five failing to make double figures as Joe Leach (3-27) ripped through their top order. 

Only Ian Bell (46no) managed to hang around alongside keeper Tim Ambrose (31no) - the pair sharing a crucial 66-run stand after coming together in a crisis at 35-4.

Having won the toss and electing to bat, Worcestershire had earlier enjoyed a positive first session, reaching lunch 104-2, with Daryl Mitchell falling two balls before the break for 36.

He had earlier put on 38 with Richard Oliver, who looked in good touch, reaching a fluent 27 from 23 balls before he nicked Chris Wright behind at 38-1.

But Moeen Ali picked up where Oliver left off with his own fluent style, making 45 before he was removed by Keith Barker (4-65). 

That left Worcestershire 126-5 and eight wickets would fall in the afternoon session for just 139 runs - Joe Clarke providing the main resistance with a spirtely 50 from 61 balls.

But when he was caught by Jonathan Trott off Boyd Rankin, Worcestershire were 225-8 and edging towards their disappointing total.