Stephen Peters hit a career-best 165 as Worcestershire dominated the opening day of the Bath Festival by posting 422 for five against Frizzell County Championship Division Two leaders Somerset.

Opening partner Anurag Singh also hit a century and the pair's stand of 201 was a Worcestershire record in matches against Somerset.

Graeme Hick also contributed a fluent 71 on a tough day for the home bowlers.

Today, the County moved on to 454 for 6 after 112 overs with Gareth Batty the wicket to fall, bowled by Simon Francis for 26.

His overnight partner Andrew Hall completed a half-century, hitting three sixes in his unbeaten 56.

Yesterday, Worcestershire's decision to bat after winning the toss was made to look shrewd once Peters and Singh overcame an impressive opening spell from Francis.

There was just one chance offered in the morning session when Singh, on 64, cut at a wide ball from Nixon McLean and was dropped by Piran Holloway at first slip.

Singh moved comfortably to his first century of the season off 148 balls with 18 fours.

Peters was particularly severe on anything short, pulling three sixes, the first his opening scoring shot off McLean in only the third over.

The double century partnership had been brought up in 52 overs when off-spinner Keith Dutch had Singh caught off bat and pad by Jamie Cox at short leg.

That brought in Hick, who looked set to take an even heavier toll on the Somerset attack when hoisting two straight sixes off Ian Blackwell.

Peters raised both arms in celebration of his century after pulling McLean for four. He had faced 172 balls and hit 12 fours, as well as his three sixes, in a chanceless innings.

At tea Worcestershire had reached 317 for four, but Hick was out soon after the break, clipping Blackwell to short midwicket where Keith Parsons took a sharp catch.

Ben Smith fell for two, stumped as he was beaten in the flight by Blackwell, while Vikram Solanki only managed 10 before being bowled off a bottom edge, pulling at McLean.

But Peters, whose previous best score was 146, reached 150 off 257 balls, having hit 19 fours and four sixes. He was finally bowled off a glove trying to withdraw the bat from a delivery from Francis.