LV COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE, Taunton:
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY ONE: Somerset 328-7 v Essex
Somerset 3 pts, Essex 2 pts
Match scorecard

Compton hit his maiden championship half-century for Somerset

Nick Compton hit a half century on his Championship home debut for his new county as Somerset eased past the 300-mark against Essex at Taunton.

The former Middlesex batsman, making only his third Somerset appearance following his winter move from Lord's, hit 72 before top-edging a sweep.

Two other Somerset batsmen, Zander de Bruyn and James Hildreth, also got into the 70s before being dismissed.

Veteran Essex seamer David Masters took three wickets as Somerset made 328-7.

De Bruyn made 73, matched by Hildreth, who overcame a freak injury in the warm-up.

The 25-year-old slipped while playing a game of touch rugby and had to go to hospital for stitches after a team-mate's studs left him with a cut knee.

On a slower than normal Taunton pitch, Somerset struggled after winning the toss, losing Arul Suppiah leg before to Masters on the back foot for seven.

On 19, Somerset skipper Marcus Trescothick mistimed a leg-side shot, spooning a catch to Ryan ten Doeschate at square-leg.

But Compton, making his home debut, looked confident from the start, reaching his half-century off 81 balls.

He and de Bruyn took the score to 142 before Compton was caught at short fine leg by Masters.

Soon after tea, de Bruyn lost his middle stump aiming a loose drive at ten Doeschate, but Hildreth produced a succession of trademark shots through point to reach 50 off 73 balls.

But, from 286-4, Somerset then suffered a mini-collapse.

First Hildreth had his off-bail removed by Masters as he shouldered arms to the second new ball.

Jos Buttler, the wicketkeeper replacement while Craig Kieswetter represents England in the ICC World Twenty20, had played well to reach 36 when he lifted Masters to short cover.

And Damien Wright was run out without facing a ball as he reacted slowly to the call from Peter Trego, who was 30 not out at the close.

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