Smith dealt severely with anything dropped short

Skipper Graeme Smith put the disappointment of South Africa's NatWest Series final defeat behind him with an aggressive century.

He capitalised on Somerset's decision to field an under-strength attack by hitting 27 boundaries in his 152.

Gary Kirsten and Neil McKenzie provided the main support as both made 66, but opener Herschelle Gibbs' miserable run of form continued when he was dismissed for four.

The tourists went into the game with a side including all six players who have joined the squad following the one-day series - Kirsten, McKenzie, wicket-keeper Thami Tsolekile, and bowlers Charl Willoughby, Monde Zondeki and Robin Peterson.

Smith chose to bat first after winning the toss and Gibbs was soon off the mark with a boundary.

It proved to be his sole scoring stroke, however, as he was bowled off the inside edge by Stefan Jones with the total on 10.

Kirsten was content to play a supporting role to Western Province team-mate Smith in his first innings for four months.

But the 35-year-old mixed in an occasional flourish, collecting a six and nine fours before he was caught off spinner Ian Blackwell, which brought a stand of 163 to an end.

Feature: Kirsten maintains appetite for runs

Boeta Dippenaar failed to build on a promising start as he fell to Wes Durston for 17, but Neil McKenzie quickly settled and twice cleared the ropes he and Smith lifted the scoring rate.

They put on 99 before the pull shot which had brought Smith so many of his runs proved his undoing as he hoisted medium-pacer Keith Parsons to Gareth Andrew at deep square leg.

The declaration came soon afterwards and Dewald Pretorius and Willoughby were handed the new ball as the tourists looked to make inroads into the Somerset top order.

Each bowled a tidy spell, they were unable to part the openers in 14 overs before the close.

Matthew Wood was 18 not out, with partner James Bryant, a South African playing for the county under a British passport, on 17.

Somerset: M J Wood, J D C Bryant, K A Parsons, M Burns (Capt), I D Blackwell, A W Laraman, C M Gazzard (Wkt), W J Durston, G M Andrew, G Gilder, P S Jones.

South Africa: H H Gibbs, G C Smith (Capt), G Kirsten, N D McKenzie, H H Dippenaar, R J Peterson, T L Tsolekile (Wkt), P R Adams, D Pretorius, C M Willoughby, M Zondeki.