Centuries from Rory Burns and Dean Elgar put Surrey in a strong position before a determined Somerset fight-back on the opening day of the Specsavers County Championship match at Taunton.

Having won the toss on a day of unbroken sunshine, the visitors ran up 330 for six, with skipper Burns contributing 107 and Elgar making 103 against one of his former clubs.

Surrey were 265 for two at one stage, but then lost four wickets for 30 runs as Lewis Gregory struck twice on his way to figures of three for 44 from 17 overs at the River End.

Ryan Patel (25 not out) and Rikki Clarke (28 not out) steadied the ship and by the close Surrey had regained momentum going into day two.

Burns took the obvious decision to bat first on what appeared a true batting pitch under cloudless skies and was rewarded when he and Mark Stoneman put together an opening stand of 96 from 30.3 overs.

They were parted just before lunch when Stoneman, who had moved to his half-century off 105 balls, with 6 fours, edged a defensive shot off Jack Brooks through to wicketkeeper Steve Davies and departed for 50.

Shortly after the interval it was 99 for two as Scott Borthwick was caught at third slip by Craig Overton, driving at a delivery from Gregory.

With the total 108, Burns, on 42, survived a leg-side chance to Davies off Gregory. It proved an expensive miss as the Surrey captain moved to fifty from 109 balls, with 5 fours.

Elgar was more fluent, reaching his fifty off 71 deliveries and by tea the third-wicket partnership was worth 118, Surrey having progressed to 217 for two.

Burns had been given another life on 84 when Azhar Ali spilled a comfortable catch at deep square off Brooks. The final session saw the opener reach three figures with a leg glance for two off Craig Overton.

But Somerset stuck to their task well. When Burns finally fell to a top-edged pull shot that saw him caught at mid-on off Tim Groenewald, having faced 188 balls and hit 10 fours, the hosts sensed an opening.

It was 268 for four when Ben Foakes was caught behind for three off a fine delivery from Somerset captain Tom Abell, who delayed taking the new ball as the old one was swinging.

That proved sound thinking as Elgar, who cut Abell for four to reach a 165-ball ton, was pinned lbw by a toe-crushing yorker from Gregory.

Will Jacks fell without scoring, another leg-before victim for Gregory, and suddenly Somerset were on top for the first time.

They took the second new ball at the start of the 90th over with the score 314 for six, but failed to make another breakthrough against a confident Patel and Clarke.

Somerset head coach Jason Kerr said: "We had a bit of luck when Dean Elgar hit a six into the river because the replacement ball swung around. That's why we delayed taking the second new ball.

"I thought our bowlers stuck to their task really well. At one point Surrey had over 200 for two with two international batsmen at the crease, yet we never let them get away.

"It's hard to say what a par score is on this pitch, but I felt we bowled really well. Unfortunately, we let a couple of chances slip, which isn't like us, but that's cricket."

Surrey skipper Rory Burns said: "It was an alright day for us. You always want to be a couple less wickets down, but at the end of play we are pretty happy with the position.

"There was something in the pitch for the bowlers if they maintained line and length. I was pleased with the partnerships we put together because we had to fight heard for our runs throughout the day.

"It was possible to build partnerships by being patient, but getting in wasn't easy and wickets fell in clusters."

TEA REPORT

Rory Burns led a strong Surrey batting display on the opening day of the Specsavers County Championship match with Somerset at Taunton.

The skipper was unbeaten on 95 at tea, having won the toss and seen his side run up 217 for two from 64 overs in glorious sunshine.

Mark Stoneman contributed 50 to an opening stand of 96 with Burns before edging a defensive shot off Jack Brooks through to wicketkeeper Steve Davies.

At lunch it was 97 for one and only two runs had been added when Scott Borthwick, on one, edged a drive off Lewis Gregory to Craig Overton at third slip.

Burns, whose half-century came off 109 balls, survived a leg-side chance to Davies off Gregory on 42 and a straightforward one to Azhar Ali at deep square off Brooks on 84.

Dean Elgar had helped add 118 for the third wicket by tea and was 60 not out having reached fifty off 71 balls, with 8 fours.

LUNCH REPORT

Mark Stoneman and Rory Burns gave Surrey a solid start to the Specsavers County Championship match with Somerset at Taunton.

The pair put together and opening stand of 96 from 30.3 overs on the opening morning after Burns had won the toss and elected to bat in bright sunshine.

Stoneman had moved to a half-century off 105 balls, with six fours, when edging a defensive shot off Jack Brooks through to wicketkeeper Steve Davies and departing for 50.

Somerset's bowlers found little assistance from what looked a prime batting pitch, but maintained a disciplined line and length.

By lunch Burns had progressed to 36, having been joined by Scott Borthwick, and Surrey were well placed at 97 for one from 32 overs.

During the break Somerset's Jason Kerr was presented with the Coach of the Month award for April under a new ECB initiative.

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