Lancashire hammer woeful Somerset

Somerset's batsmen failed again on their way to a second successive innings defeat as Lancashire romped home inside three days at Aigburth.

Farveez Maharoof (102) completed a century on debut for Lancashire before the hosts were bowled out for 451.

Needing 184 to make the home side bat again, the visitors slumped to 81-6.

Gemaal Hussain (42) and Craig Kieswetter (38) resisted but Somerset were dismissed for 163, Lancashire winning by an innings and 20 runs.

It was Lancashire's second innings victory of the season, having beaten Sussex at the same ground in the first round of matches.

And it was certainly a day to remember for Sri Lankan Maharoof who, after starting the day unbeaten on 49, not only made it to three figures, but also then chipped in with the key wickets of Arul Suppiah and Nick Compton.

The former Sri Lanka Under-19 captain had lost Sajid Mahmood, who became Steve Kirby's sixth victim when he edged behind, before completing his century off 131 balls with his 13th four, and in doing so became only the third Lancashire player to score a ton on his Championship debut.

He was soon out trapped leg before to Suppiah, but gained his revenge when he found the Somerset batsman's edge in his first over with the ball, wicketkeeper Gareth Cross taking a neat catch.

Compton followed four overs later when he edged to Paul Horton at slip.

Somerset captain Marcus Trescothick was caught by a diving Stephen Moore at cover off Sajid Mahmood and the visitors did themselves no favours when James Hildreth was run out by Steven Croft's throw from the boundary going for a fourth run.

Tom Smith removed both Jos Buttle and Peter Trego before Hussain and Kieswetter put on 57.

But Kieswetter fell to the first ball after tea, looping a leading edge off Oliver Newby to Mahmood, and Hussain's resistance was ended for a career-best 42 when he edged Gary Keedy to Horton at slip.

Kirby was then run out before Lancashire wrapped things up when last man Charl Willoughby was stumped by Cross off Keedy.