Zander de Bruyn played another key role as Somerset enjoyed an excellent first day of the LV County Championship match against Kent at Taunton.

The South African top scored with 81 as his side made 427 after being put in. Marcus Trescothick (58), Justin Langer (50), Peter Trego (65) and Ian Blackwell (55) were the other main contributors.

Then Charl Willoughby took the important wickets of Kent opener Joe Denly and skipper Robert Key as the visitors struggled to 13-3 off 4.2 overs at the end of the day.

Steffan Jones weighed in with the wicket of nightwatchman Martin Saggers and Key's dismissal in the final over completed a great day for Langer and his team.

At the close de Bruyn told somersetcountycc.co.uk: "Tomorrow promises to be very interesting and if we can pick up a few more quick wickets we can put Kent under a lot of pressure.

"On a personal note, I feel in good form and gained a lot of confidence from making a hundred against Durham, with one of the best bowlers in England leading their attack.

"I was disappointed to miss out on a third successive century in the Championship, having got so close, but it wasn't my day in that respect.

"We were put in on a pitch that looked a bit green so to finish the day in the position we are in and take three wickets in so few overs represents a very good effort." 

Skipper Langer and Trescothick and got Somerset off to a rapid start after Key had elected to bowl first on a green looking pitch. Ben Phillips had been brought into the home line-up at the expense of Neil Edwards.

There was precious little movement off the seam as Trescothick moved confidently to his half-century off 68 balls, with 2 sixes and 7 fours.

It came as a surprise when, with the total on 109, the former England opener pushed firmly at a ball from Saggers (3-84) and was caught at first slip by Justin Kemp.

The aggressive Langer's fifty occupied just 56 deliveries and also featured 7 fours. But he quickly followed Trescothick back to the pavilion, caught behind off Joseph, and when James Hildreth fell to Saggars for four it was 124-3.

That became 136-3 off 29 overs at lunch and Somerset continued to play positively after the interval through de Bruyn and Trego, who added 120 in 21 overs.

Trego hit 2 sixes and 7 fours in a 54-ball half-century, while de Bruyn was more cautious in reaching his fifty off 104 deliveries. The Kolpak signing was following successive Championship centuries against Yorkshire and Durham and again looked in fine touch.

The fall of Trego came on 244 when he lofted a catch to mid-on, but there was no respite for Kent as Blackwell came in to join the run spree. Just before tea de Bruyn gloved a catch behind off Saggers, having hit 10 fours and a six in his 125-ball stay.

Blackwell became the fifth batsman to reach a half-century, off 69 balls, with a six and six fours, but soon afterwards he skied a catch to mid-wicket and it was 381-6.

Craig Kieswetter made 35 before chipping a catch to short mid-on and the second new ball accounted for Steffan Jones, Ben Phillips and Alfonso Thomas.

It was a tough day for the Kent bowlers. Off-spinner James Tredwell was hit for 7 sixes in picking up 2-94 from 21 overs and seamer Robbie Joseph sent down 12 no-balls.

The visitors were without opening bowler Yasir Arafat for most of the day as he was forced to leave the field with stomach cramps after a four-over spell at the start of play.

In overcast conditions at the end of the day Denly was lbw to a Willoughby inswinger, Saggers was bowled by Jones playing down the wrong line and Key edged Willoughby to wicketkeeper Kieswetter, who held the catch at the second attempt.

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