All rounder Ian Blackwell played Somerset back into the championship match against Yorkshire at Taunton today, when he hit a magnificent century.

Coming into bat with the score on 26 for 4 in reply to the visitor's total of 213, after an apprehensive start `Blackie' set about the Yorkshire attack. He hit England paceman Matthew Hoggard for consecutive sixes over the Coal Orchard boundary, before bringing up his own century with an enormous six off the penultimate ball of the day over the Stragglers Bar.

Ian Blackwell's century came off exactly one hundred balls and contained 6x4's and 11x4's, and was greeted by a standing ovation from the large crowd.

When play closed for the day Somerset had reached 186 for 6, just 27 runs behind Yorkshire with four wickets remaining.

All of this was witnessed by England team boss Duncan Fletcher who can't help but have been impressed by the all rounder's batting performance.

Earlier in the day Somerset had bowled out the County Champions for 213 with Andy Caddick taking 5 for 72, Matthew Bulbeck after a good opening spell ending with 2 for 90 and Simon Francis taking 2 for 37.

After the close of play Somerset chief executive Peter Anderson told me: "It has been a very interesting days cricket, in which Somerset have bowled and fielded very well."

The chief continued: "We had an extraordinary batting display by Ian Blackwell, all in front of Duncan Fletcher and the ECB coaches who were on the ground to discuss the merits of the Academy programme. Ian Blackwell has done himself a lot of good with his batting performance today."

During the tea interval Steffan Jones was out on the field bowling to Kevin Shine. After the game the Welshman told me: "I have been out bowling on three different occasions today and it all went very well. I will certainly be playing on Sunday."

© SOMERSET