Graeme Hick hit his 99th century for Worcestershire and Somerset had no way of stopping him on day one at Taunton.

Hick (151) and Ben Smith (121) put on 274 - seven short of the county record for the fourth wicket - to take the visitors to 444-3 by the close.

Openers Phil Jaques (88) and Steven Moore (53) put on 123 before Charl Willoughby took three wickets.

Hick, 40, was first to a century, his 129th in first-class cricket but his first of the season, off 128 balls.

It took him above Graham Gooch in the all-time list of first-class century-makers and level with Sir Leonard Hutton in eighth place.

It was his ninth first-class ton against Somerset and his fourth at Taunton, including the quadruple hundred in 1988.

Only eight players have scored 100 first-class tons for one county, the most recent Geoff Boycott for Yorkshire.

New Somerset skipper Cameron White was one of eight bowlers used without any further success.

Jaques was dropped on 69 by Keith Parsons at first slip off Andrew Caddick.

And, more importantly, Smith - on 10 - survived a low chance to Wes Durston at third slip off Willoughby.