Century-makers Marcus Trescothick and James Hildreth shared a third-wicket stand of 261 as Somerset were bowled out for 408 on the opening day of the Division One match against Middlesex at Taunton.

Middlesex captain Adam Voges invited Somerset to bat, but Trescothick (140) and Hildreth (187) took Somerset into a good position before the last seven wickets fell for 31 runs.

Trescothick and Hildreth put together a record Somerset partnership for any wicket against Middlesex before Trescothick, having hit 24 fours and a six, was caught at deep midwicket by James Harris off Voges.

Hildreth struck 25 fours and two sixes before Harris had him caught at third man by James Franklin, and the Welshman finished as Middlesex's most successful bowler with a return of five for 83 in 18 overs.

Middlesex reached 10 for no wicket at stumps after Sam Robson and Nick Guppins safely negotiated four overs.

Voges's decision to field first was possibly influenced by the overcast conditions, but there were few problems against the new ball for Trescothick, acting captain in the absence of Alfonso Thomas, and Exeter University student Tom Abell, who came into the team for Johann Myburgh, whose wife is due to give birth.

Abell had contributed 16 to an opening stand of 50 with Trescothick when he shouldered arms to a delivery from Tim Murtagh and lost his off stump.

Tom Cooper was lbw for a duck to Harris three balls later, but Middlesex had to wait a further 48 overs for a wicket to celebrate as Trescothick and Hildreth treated the crowd to some superb strokeplay.

Hildreth had a slice of luck on 49 when Gubbins dropped a simple chance at square leg off Steven Finn, but otherwise played with fluency and style, so much so that he struck four fours and a six from nine deliveries at one stage of the afternoon session.

Trescothick survived a sharp chance to Neil Dexter at first slip off Ollie Rayner on 95. That apart,, the former England batsman was at his commanding best on the way to his 56th first-class hundred, which arrived with a paddle for two to fine leg off Rayner.

Hildreth's only century in a disappointing 2014 season for him was the 182 he made against Middlesex at Taunton last August, and he repeated the feat in the 52nd over when he worked Harris away for two runs to deep square leg.

The breakthrough Middlesex badly needed arrived just before tea when the occasional medium pace of Voges had Trescothick caught in the deep.

Jim Allenby helped Hildreth add 60 for the fourth wicket before his departure, caught behind off Harris for 23, sparked a collapse that saw seven wickets tumble for 31 runs in 11 overs.

Harris was the chief destroyer as he had Alex Barrow and Pete Trego caught in the slips, both for ducks, before he ended Hildreth's 212-ball stay in the middle.

Finn accounted for Groenewald, who fenced a delivery to .Voges at second slip, and Gregory was the next to go when taken at mid-off by Finn off Murtagh.

Abdur Rehman, became the fifth Somerset batsman to fall for a duck when Finn wrapped up the innings by having him caught at backward point by Nick Compton.