James Hildreth was unbeaten on 127 as Somerset ended the first day of the LV County Championship match with Sussex at Taunton strongly placed on 399-3.

A solid batting display after visiting skipper Chris Adams had won the toss saw Neil Edwards make 99, Marcus Trescothick 74, Justin Langer 44 and Zander de Bruyn 37 not out.

Edwards, who was out three times in the nineties in Championship cricket last season, fell agonisingly short of a century again and was out in unusual circumstances.

Advancing down the pitch to off-spinner Ollie Rayner, he appeared to get a thin edge along the ground to first slip where Adams collected and threw down the stumps before Edwards could recover his ground.

There was no such mistake from Hildreth, who also found himself on 99 before a pull for two off Jason Lewry took him to three figures off 129 balls, with 2 sixes and 10 fours.

By the close the 23-year-old had extended that boundary count to 3 sixes and 12 fours in a stylish innings occupying 161 deliveries. He had one escape when dropped by Michael Yardy at slip off Luke Wright on 18.

 Adams' decision to field after winning the toss may well have been based on the previous Championship match at Taunton when Somerset slumped to 23-6 having been invited to bat by Hampshire.

But there was none of the early dampness in the wicket which aided the seamers in that game. Trescothick produced some sumptuous off-drives in a century opening stand with Edwards, who reached his fifty first, off 78 balls, with 8 fours.

It was 102-0 at lunch and Trescothick brought up his half-century straight after the interval, having faced 110 deliveries and also collected eight boundaries.

The two left-handers looked in complete control as they took the score to 151 before Trescothick aimed a flashing drive at Corey Collymore and was caught off a thin edge by wicketkeeper Matt Prior, who later needed treatment for a finger injury.

Hildreth was promoted to three in the order above Langer and was soon justifying the move with some sweetly timed drive and back-foot strokes.

Already with a brilliant one-day century under his belt this season, Hildreth looked confident and assured.

Edwards had faced 134 balls and extended his boundary count to 15 when a rush of blood cost him his wicket.

Langer progressed fluently until caught behind off Rayner with the score on 313. From then on de Bruyn proved a solid partner for Hildreth until the close.

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