THE last time Somerset were at The Rose Bowl they contributed to a thrilling Friends Provident t20 final in front of a packed house and a global television audience.

By LV County Championship standards, there was a decent crowd for the second day of Hampshire’s match against the pre-season favourites, but the circumstances were very different to the adrenaline-fuelled drama of the Royals’ t20 triumph of last August.

Having already bowled Hampshire out for just 285, Somerset ended the second day of this match in a position of total command, on 405 for five.

Marcus Trescothick’s unbeaten 193 - his 44th first-class hundred - ensured that Somerset will resume this morning with a lead of 120, with Jos Buttler still at the crease and Peter Trego yet to bat.

It was not the first time Trescothick has frustrated Hampshire’s bowlers.

The Royals were on the wrong end of the Somerset captain’s astonishing 13-ball t20 fifty at Taunton last year but this is the biggest of his four Championship tons against Hampshire (it surpasses his 178 at Taunton in 1996).

Going into this match, Trescothick’s poor form had reflected the appalling start made by last year’s runners-up, who were many people’s tip for the title before heavy defeats against Warwickshire and Lancashire.

But he led from the front by batting all day. Trescothick’s aggregate of 48 runs for the season (following scores of 18, 5, 4 and 21) was soon surpassed.

He reached fifty shortly before lunch, by cover driving the seventh of his 28 fours and he reached his century by stroking the 14th boundary in the same manner.

Trescothick’s first fifty lasted a circumspect 112 balls, but he soon accelerated. His second included a pulled six against Friedel De Wet and came from 77 deliveries, while his third required just 65 balls.

Like the previous two, it was chanceless.

The pace of David Griffiths occasionally forced Trescothick to bob and weave, particularly during the morning session, and there was a huge appeal for caught behind from De Wet turned down when he had made 132.

But that was about it.

Another successful former England left-hander, Graham Thorpe, was at The Rose Bowl yesterday in his role as ECB batting coach. England selector Geoff Miller also looked on from the stands.

Sadly, Trescothick is unlikely to make himself available for his country again, but on yesterday’s evidence his nation’s loss could be his county’s gain for a good few years yet.

He benefited from a flat wicket yesterday, but Hampshire would have had hopes of restricting Somerset to less when Griffiths found Arul Suppiah’s outside edge in the fourth over of the day.

As it was, they looked a bowler light as Sean Ervine went for more than five an over and Dominic Cork struggled to make an impact.

Ervine sent Nick Compton’s off stump cartwheeling before lunch but conceded 24 from one over against Craig Kieswetter as Somerset put their foot down.

Friedel de Wet stooped to hold on to return catches that dismissed James Hildreth (31) and Kieswetter(58), the joint second highest scorer with extras, either side of tea.

And Danny Briggs gave Hampshire some control, conceding barely more than two an over before trapping fellow teenager and Somerset debutant Alex Barrow lbw as the shadows lengthened.

But from this position, Hampshire will be doing well if they begin their second innings less than 200 runs behind.