Dion Stovell’s second successive Cup Match hundred left holders Somerset firmly in the driver’s seat at the close of the opening day’s play at Wellington Oval on Thursday.

The experienced all rounder stroked a polished and disciplined 139 during a marathon stay at the crease that laid the foundation for Somerset’s 404 all out in 95 overs after they were put into bat on a damp pitch.

Stovell led a fightback after Somerset had slipped to 36 for two in the tenth over, putting on 68 for the fourth wicket with opener Terryn Fray, 56 with fellow all rounder Kamau Leverock and 90 with wicketkeeper Steven Bremar Jr for the eighth wicket.

The Cleveland County batsman struck an unbeaten 111 at Somerset last year and reached this hundred off 150 balls as he used soft hands to gently nudge Delray Rawlins into the covers to cross for a single shortly after the tea interval.

Stovell’s 178-ball innings was not without its share of luck as he survived two run-out attempts and offered two catches at slip and short long on the way to his highest score in the summer spectacle.

The player’s masterful innings was also interrupted when he retired hurt after being struck on the foot by a Zeko Burgess yorker, but he returned later to put a demoralised St George’s attack to the sword.

St George’s had made a promising start after removing star batters Chris Douglas and Tre Manders cheaply during the morning’s play but all of their hard work come undone as poor fielding and loose bowling took its toll.

Somerset capitalised with some responsible batting and received useful contributions throughout their order with Fray (65) and the recalled Bremar (64) stroking fifties and Alje Richardson (44) and Leverock (38) both making starts to repair the early damage.

Their innings finally ended when Stovell was bowled 25 minutes before the scheduled cut-off time.

Seamer Zeko Burgess (four for 59) and off spinner Allan Douglas Jr (four for 95) were the pick of a St George’s attack that was called for seven no balls with former Sussex player, and Bermuda captain, Rawlins among the chief culprits.

After calling for the roller, St George’s were left with one over to face and made the worst possible start when opener Treadwell Gibbons Jr was bowled when offering no stroke to a Leverock delivery from the second ball of the innings.

This brought night watchman Brian Hall to the crease, who along with fellow colt Azende Furbert saw the hosts to stumps without further damage.

Jeff Richardson, the Somerset coach, was thrilled to see his team achieve their objective during the opening day’s play in their bid for a third straight victory this year.

“We actually control what’s going to happen to this match, and that’s what we wanted to achieve, ” he told The Royal Gazette.

“If we would have won the toss, we would have sent them into bat because the wicket looked like it was a bit soft and rain was threatening.

“We lost the toss but we have a decent enough team where we can fight through the early innings to allow the wicket to dry, and that’s what we did.

“They got two breakthroughs earlier but we have so much depth in our team that the lumber keeps coming.”

Richardson was also pleased to see Leverock make the early breakthrough with the new ball in the St George’s innings.

“St George’s wisely decided to roll the wicket so they would face less overs but they lost a wicket anyway, so I don’t think it quite worked out for them,” he added.

Richardson is confident his team can go on and achieve the three-peat of victories when play resumes on Friday.

“I think it’s still on,” he said.

“We are going to have a few ice baths, do the right things and come out firing tomorrow, and the onus is going to be on St George’s to bat the whole day.”