Somerset spent a hard day in the field at Taunton today where table toppers Surrey amassed 448 for 5.

After winning the toss Somerset put Surrey in to bat, and Steffan Jones and Simon Francis both claimed early wickets as the visitors slipped to 32 for 2, which could so easily have become 46 for 3.

Francis in particular bowled well, and in his opening spell had figures of 7 overs 1 wicket for 12 runs.

Mark Ramprakash then started to take control and shared partnerships with Nadeem Shahid (51) Adam Hollioake (87), and Ricky Clarke(50 not out) , and at close of play was unbeaten on 199.

At the end of the day Somerset coach Kevin Shine told me: "The boys have had a long hard day out there today."

Keith Parsons told me: "When we won the toss and put them in,it looked greener than usual and we hoped that by the end of the day that we would have got more than five out. But it didn't work out and they got away."

The C and G Final `Man of the Match' continued : "We have got a lot of hard work to do in the morning to get them out, and then when we bat we have got to dig in and get to their total and beyond."

He concluded: "Simon Francis bowled well all day for us, but overall things didn't go our way today."

© SOMERSET