Bowler the batsman defied Sussex at Hove yesterday and showed just why the county were once so keen to sign him.

Somerset's Peter Bowler has been a prolific accumulator on the circuit for three different counties since 1986. Last season, at the age of 37, he was still averaging over 40 as he helped Somerset finish runners-up in the Championship and there is no evidence at the start of his 17th campaign in the county game that his powers of concentration or his ability to hit the bad ball are fading.

Bowler, who resisted overtures to join his former Derbyshire team-mate Chris Adams on the south coast a couple of years ago, dropped anchor for much of the second day to help Somerset establish a useful first innings lead of 43 with two wickets in hand.

A 43rd first-class century beckoned, but he paid dearly for his only indiscretion in four hours at the crease when, on 94, he drove loosely at James Kirtley and was caught at first slip in the penultimate over of the day.

Kirtley finished with 3-73, but all county's bowlers deserve credit for sticking to their task. There is decent carry and bounce in the pitch, but conditions were much better for batting than on the first day when a sea fret hung over the ground to keep the bowlers interested.

Sussex might even have been on top going into the third day had two of their most reliable fielders not dropped what were by their standards fairly routine slip catches.

Somerset skipper Jamie Cox was reprieved on two in the eighth over when he edged Kirtley to Montgomerie who shelled a chance that was probably more difficult than the one he held seven-and-a-half hours later.

Cox dug in for another 45 overs before he became the first of two victims for off-spinner Mark Davis after making 65.

Then just before tea Rob Turner was dropped at second slip by Adams when he hadn't yet scored, Kirtley again the luckless bowler. Turner went on to make 20, one of several handy contributions from a Somerset side who bat as long as any other team in the first division.

Cox and Matthew Wood (54) had put on 102 for the first wicket and looked good for a few more when Wood mis-timed an ambitious pull at a short ball from Robin Martin-Jenkins and got a thin edge to wicketkeeper Matt Prior.

Davis was always going to play a bigger role this season on pitches which are more likely to assist the slow bowlers, but his workload is bound to increase following the tragic death of Umer Rashid. The signs yesterday were that the South African is up to the job.

When Somerset tried to increase the tempo after lunch the off-spinner kept them tied down in a controlled 12 over spell from the sea end before the pressure he applied eventually led to mistakes.

Michael Burns was bowled as he came down the pitch aiming an expansive shot over mid-wicket and the key wicket of Cox was captured when the Tasmanian mis-timed an on drive.

Jason Lewry returned to the attack and immediately trapped Keith Parsons leg before with an inswinging yorker and Kirtley was finally rewarded when Tony Cottey dived full-length at backward square leg to pouch Ian Blackwell the ball after he had pulled Kirtley for six.

That made Somerset 253-5 and honours at that stage were pretty even. But Turner celebrated his reprieve by helping add 48 for the sixth wicket and Bowler found another steadfast partner in Keith Dutch as they guided their side into the lead.

The seventh wicket pair added 64 in 18 overs before Kirtley had Dutch leg before with the second new ball before removing Bowler in his next over.