County Championship Division One 

Somerset 202 & 255 beat Worcestershire 179 & 195 by 83 runs

SOMERSET'S bowlers proved too hot for Worcestershire to handle as the hosts completed a comfortable victory to get their season off to a strong start in Taunton.

All four seamers were among the wickets before a run out finished it off as Somerset recorded their first victory in a County Championship opener since they defeated Middlesex by six wickets in 2012.

The hosts' bowling attack were able to get straight into action as Somerset, resuming on 255-9 with James Hildreth unbeaten on 111, lost their final wicket from just the second ball of the day as Groenewald (4) was clean bowled.

Gregory, who is believed to be the subject of a 28-day approach from another county as he is in the final year of his Somerset deal and hasn't yet signed an extension, showed what he is capable of with the new ball by knocking two of Daryl Mitchell's stumps out the ground midway through the third over.

Davey took the new ball at the other end and also struck early, pinning Brett D'Oliveira in front to reduce the visitors to 16-2.

The highly-rated Joe Clarke survived a 'king pair' but Gregory, who had removed him first ball on day one, again proved too good for the youngster, trapping him lbw for just seven as the score slipped to 25-3.

Groenewald then entered the fray, forcing Travis Head (9) into a loose drive which was well caught by wicketkeeper Steve Davies to his left before squaring up George Rhodes, who fell to a fine low catch by Matt Renshaw at third slip.

Gregory returned to pick up the key wicket of Tom Fell (41) lbw as Worcestershire went into the lunch interval reeling on 85-6.

Wickets continued to fall steadily in the afternoon session, with Ben Cox (23) inside edging on to his own stumps to hand Davey his second scalp before Groenewald tempted Joe Leach (6) into an edge which landed safely in the hands of James Hildreth at first slip.

Josh Tongue struck six boundaries in a brisk 34 as he and Ed Barnard frustrated Somerset until the former provided Craig Overton with his first wicket of the day, a routine caught and bowled.

The final wicket came in rather farcical circumstances as Steve Magoffin was run out attempting a second run to keep Barnard (44*) on strike - Jack Leach, in just his second over of the match, took the bails off at the bowler's end to seal victory by 83 runs.