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Renshaw posts ton on Somerset debut

Queenslander plays lone hand with unbeaten 101 amid a flurry of wickets on day one in Taunton

Australian opener Matt Renshaw marked his Somerset debut with an unbeaten century as 18 wickets fell on the opening day of the County Championship match with Worcestershire at Taunton.

Renshaw finished 101 not out in a total of 202 after an uncontested toss.

Full wrap: County scores

James Hildreth contributed a breezy 48, while Ed Barnard claimed 5-52 from 16 overs - his maiden five-wicket haul in first-class cricket.

In reply, Worcestershire plunged to 5-48, Lewis Gregory claiming three wickets in his opening spell, before closing on 8-153 with Renshaw's countryman Travis Head making 49.

Renshaw walked to the crease as Somerset's new overseas signing, having replaced Cameron Bancroft following Australia's ball-tampering scandal, with only a single on the board after Marcus Trescothick had fallen lbw to Steve Magoffin in the fourth over.

Having shared a stand of 92 with left-hander Renshaw, Hildreth fell just before lunch, edging Barnard to Joe Clarke at third slip with the total 99.

The home side progressed to 3-134 in the afternoon session before Barnard played a key hand.

The seamer had Tom Abell lbw for 10 and went on to remove Gregory, Craig Overton and Josh Davey on his way to career-best figures.

Renshaw watched the carnage from the other end as the pitch continued to offer assistance to the bowlers on a gloriously sunny day.

Showing good judgment in leaving what balls he could, the Middlesbrough-born Australian Test player was also positive in taking advantage of anything loose.

Having played and missed a few times in the morning session, he reached a chanceless century off 137 balls, with 13 fours and a six, becoming only the 14th player in Somerset's history to make a hundred on debut.

"It was really tough out there in the morning session," Renshaw said. "The ball was moving around a lot and I kept getting hit on the inner thigh.

"I just tried to play as straight and as late as possible, while trying to enjoy the experience. I had heard the Taunton crowd were good and now I have experienced that myself."

Having replaced Bancroft at the top of the Aussie Test order for the final match against South Africa last month, Renshaw was then signed by Somerset only last week, with the County Championship Division One side dumping the West Australian in the fallout from the ball-tampering controversy.

I lied and I panicked: Bancroft

Discussing the matter ahead of his debut, the 22-year-old was sympathetic to his fellow batsman.

"It's a tough scenario to be in and I feel for Cameron, but I think he'll be back at some point," Renshaw told BBC. "He's a really good bloke and a really good cricketer. Hopefully he'll be back bigger and stronger."

Renshaw was holidaying in the UK when news of Somerset's interest came through via his manager, and what had originally been planned as the first leg of a European adventure with his girlfriend quickly became an excellent career opportunity ahead of next year's Ashes tour.

It was the second time in the space of a month that his plans had been radically altered, after his recall to the Test team ended his Sheffield Shield final celebrations with Queensland prematurely.

"I was playing in the Sheffield Shield final and then flew out the night we won it," he said. "So it all happened pretty quickly, but once I got over there I just tried to bring a lot of energy.

"They (the Australian players) were pretty down, as expected … I just tried to bring what I could. But it was a tough environment to go into.

"It was a tough couple of days (after the ball-tampering occurred), for us even in Australia as cricketers.

"A lot of people were giving their opinions that probably came out of nowhere … but I think we've just got to try and take everything we can on board and become better out of it."

Renshaw's debut hundred at Somerset is the perfect start to his English season as he looks to press his claims for a regular spot in Australia's Test set-up, particularly with a UK-based Ashes tour next year.

The left-hander was in outstanding form in the back half of the Shield season, scoring centuries in three consecutive matches before guiding the Bulls to victory in the final with an unbeaten 81 in the second innings that pushed him to the top of the competition's run scorers.

"A lot of Australians talk about coming over here and it being a really good challenge," the 22-year-old said.

"I'm looking forward to playing against some guys who I have been following over the last couple of years. I will embrace every opportunity I get ahead of what could be an Ashes tour next year.

"It is important to try to get experience on certain grounds which play differently to others.

"Getting as much experience as I can at such a young age will be really important to those aspirations of playing in the Ashes."