PHIL Jaques and Michael Lumb each celebrated different occasions with sparkling centuries on the first day of Yorkshire's Championship match against Somerset at Taunton yesterday.

Jaques, who the previous day had learned he had been selected for Australia 'A' team's tour of Pakistan in September, made a handsome 106, while Lumb's elegant career-best 130 fully justified his recall to the side.

The combined efforts of the two fluent left-handers on an excellent batting pitch enabled Yorkshire to reach 377-7 by the close but they would have been in an even stronger position had they not lost three wickets for three runs late in the day.

There was jubilation for Somerset in the first over of the match when Andrew Caddick had Joe Sayers caught at second slip by James Hildreth to bring the former England paceman his 1,000th wicket in first class cricket.

Anthony McGrath looked in good nick until he also fell to a slip catch by Hildreth in Simon Francis' initial over.

Matthew Wood remained resolute while Jaques began to play some exquisite straight drives which were a feature of his innings and the third-wicket pair had added 69 when Wood, attempting to push Caddick on the on-side, was caught behind by Carl Gazzard for 34.

Yorkshire would be disappointed to be 115-3 at lunch but they soon cheered up as Jaques and Lumb got the runs flowing with a 119 stand in 32 overs.

After a quiet start, Lumb moved up a gear but it was the Australian who was really motoring and his four through extra cover off Ian Blackwell brought him his third century of the season off 144 balls with 17 boundaries.

In the next over from off-spinner Wesley Durston, Jaques' masterly innings ended in disappointing fashion as he drove softly to Hildreth at short extra cover to make Yorkshire 228-4 but the impetus was maintained by Lumb and Craig White in another century stand, this one reaching 140 in 40 overs.

Lumb, 76 at tea, got bogged down soon after passing the 80 mark, but he did not miss out on the loose balls and he made it to three figures in style by slamming Caddick to the cover boundary.

Although Lumb managed an unbeaten century in the last match against Bangladesh 'A', it was his first Championship century in over two years, and it came off 193 balls with 17 fours.

White completed his 50 off 114 balls with nine fours and soon afterwards a hooked six and a four off Caddick took Lumb beyond his previous highest score of 124 made against Surrey in 2002.

But Yorkshire were suddenly jolted by the loss of three quick wickets, starting with White, who edged Charl Langeveldt to the wicketkeeper before nightwatchman Deon Kruis fell in similar fashion to Caddick.

Then Lumb's marathon ended when he padded up to Langeveldt and departed for 130 after 74 overs off which he struck 21 fours and a six and faced 228 balls.

Updated: 10:04 Thursday, August 11, 2005