AZHAR Ali top-scored with 80 as Somerset reached 163-4 on the second day of their pre-season friendly with Middlesex at Taunton Vale.

The visitors resumed on 89-2 under cloudy skies, and the day got off to a bad start for Somerset as Craig Overton limped off after bowling only four balls.

Matters improved somewhat, as Nick Gubbins (33) and Dawid Malan (69) were removed, Tim Groenewald taking 3-23 off 10 overs and Paul van Meekeren 2-56 off 18.

Jack Brooks removed George Scott to leave Middlesex on 173-8, but despite the efforts of spinners Dom Bess and Jack Leach, the pairing of John Simpson (23no) and James Harris (29no) resisted well.

Middlesex reached 237-8 at the end of their 80-over allocation, and they were celebrating the wicket of Marcus Trescothick (0) in the third over of Somerset's second innings.

The hosts' 6-1 became 18-2 when Ethan Bamber (2-33 off 10) claimed his second victim, James Hildreth (4), but Pakistan international Ali and club captain Tom Abell (37) pushed the total past 100.

Both then fell, leaving Eddie Byrom unbeaten on 17 at the close of play.

The third and final day of the friendly fixture is scheduled to start at 11am tomorrow.