Somerset Reach 348-5 as Josh Thomas Scores 110 at Taunton

Josh Thomas scored 110 as Somerset reached 348-5 against Essex on the opening day of their County Championship match at Taunton. The Guardian reported that Thomas produced the only century of a rain-affected day across the competition, helping the title-chasing hosts take control after Essex chose to field first.

Watch the highlights:

Thomas reached three figures from 152 balls, having struck 15 fours by that stage. His innings ended when Shane Snater bowled him, but the 21-year-old's second first-class century of the season had already carried Somerset to 213-3. The contribution provided the foundation for the largest team total recorded around the grounds on Thursday.

New Zealand batter Henry Nicholls added 96 on his Somerset debut, narrowly missing a century of his own. His partnership work with Thomas kept the innings moving after Essex's decision at the toss, and Somerset continued beyond 300 before closing five wickets down. The Guardian's roundup said the pitch proved more favorable to batting than its appearance had suggested.

The Taunton performance stood out on a day repeatedly interrupted by rain, thunder and bad light elsewhere. Kent were the next highest scorers, reaching 299-6 against Middlesex at Merchant Taylors' School. Zak Crawley made 81, his highest score of the season, while Sam Northeast added 87 and Toby Roland-Jones took three wickets.

At the Oval, Surrey reduced Nottinghamshire to 104-8 before Liam Patterson-White's unbeaten 76 helped the visitors recover to 184. Tom Lawes took five wickets for Surrey, who then closed on 13-1. At Southampton, Yorkshire were dismissed for 173 before George Hill's three wickets left Hampshire at 60-4 in a match that produced 14 wickets during the day.

Weather limited Durham to 102-2 against Derbyshire, with captain Alex Lees unbeaten on 53, while only 18 overs were possible between Lancashire and Northamptonshire at Old Trafford. Against that disrupted backdrop, Somerset completed a full and productive batting day. Thomas supplied its defining innings, and Nicholls's debut contribution left Essex facing a substantial first-innings total when play resumes.