Chris Silverwood made a much-needed breakthrough for Yorkshire as they struggled to make an impression on the second day of the PPP Championship match against Somerset.

The right-arm paceman gained an lbw decision over Keith Parsons to leave Somerset on 377 for seven and bring Yorkshire a third bowling bonus point.

Somerset began the second day on a commanding 362 for six under blue skies and in warm sunshine and with Silverwood and Ryan Sidebottom sharing the attack, as they had done yesterday after David Byas had won the toss and put in the home side, something he probably regretted later in the day.

Silverwood started with a maiden to Rob Turner, 29 not out overnight, and the first run was added when Sidebottom bowled a wide to Parsons who then pushed him for three through point.

Parsons cover drove Silverwood to the boundary and Turner took a boundary off Sidebottom but just as the seventh wicket pair were settling in nicely, Parsons missed an on-drive at Silverwood and was lbw for 15.

Matt Bulbeck joined Turner who was looking in sound form and a well-middled cover drive earned him another boundary off Sidebottom.

Yorkshire yesterday were on the receiving end of a magnificent innings of 173 from Australian Jamie Cox, Somerset's new overseas player and captain.

The Tasmanian made all of Yorkshire's seven bowlers suffer as he plundered 25 boundaries and a six off the 247 balls he faced.

Cox, who gave one of the finest exhibitions of straight drives and cover drives seen on the ground in a long while, added 61 for the second wicket with Marcus Trescothick, 95 for the third with Piran Holloway and 138 in only 31 overs for the fourth with Michael Burns who went on to make 63 from 129 deliveries with seven boundaries.

Somerset, having been put on to bat, collected maximum batting bonus points with some ease and the most successful of Yorkshire's bowlers on a hard day were Matthew Hoggard and Ryan Sidebottom who each picked up two wickets.

A century from John Inglis helped Yorkshire Seconds gain a first innings lead against Somerset at York.

Scores: Somerset 281 and 73-0. Yorkshire 300-7dec (J Inglis 118).

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