Lancashire take control against Somerset at Liverpool

LV County Championship Division One, Liverpool
Close, day two: Somerset 268, Lancashire 361-7
Lancs 7pts, Somerset 3pts
Match scorecard

Tom Smith and Gareth Cross shared a century partnership to put Lancashire in control of their County Championship match with Somerset at Aigburth.

Liverpool-born all-rounder Smith made 89, backed by keeper Cross (50) as they rescued the home side from 169-5.

Former Yorkshire fast bowler Steve Kirby took 5-79 for the visitors.

But, with Stephen Moore's highest Championship score for Lancashire (73) and Farveez Maharoof on 49, the home side closed on 361-7 with a lead of 93.

Resuming on 70 without loss in reply to Somerset's first-innings 268, Moore lost opening partner Paul Horton, caught at slip, in the 13th over of the day.

The pair put on 93, but Lancashire have not recorded a century opening partnership now in 24 games.

Kirby then took over, the 33-year-old Bolton-born Lancastrian claiming three wickets in 10 balls just before lunch, before adding a fourth just after the interval.

Moore was caught at point trying to drive before Karl Brown, who scored a century in Lancashire's opening victory over Sussex, followed, playing an almost identical shot.

Steven Croft opened his account with a boundary, then followed four balls later, caught behind as Lancashire went in at lunch 133-4.

Smith then shared a 45-run stand with skipper Mark Chilton, who was surprised by a bit of extra bounce on 30, Marcus Trescothick taking a good low catch at slip.

Cross despatched Kirby with three boundaries in four balls before finally succumbing to the former Yorkshire seamer just one delivery after reaching his 50.

Smith then put on 64 with Sri Lankan all-rounder Maharoof before his 205-ball vigil came to an end when he edged Arul Suppiah to earn Trescothick his fourth catch.