GRAEME Hick again proved the scourge of the Somerset bowlers at Taunton, eighteen years after scoring 405 not out in the corresponding fixture.

Now 40, the prolific Worcestershire batsman scored the 129th first-class century of his career -- his first of the season -- as the New Road club posted 444-3 after winning the toss in the Liverpool Victoria County Championship Division Two match.

Hick made an unbeaten 151 and Ben Smith weighed in with 121 not out as they shared an unbroken stand of 274, just seven short of a Worcestershire record for the fourth wicket.

It was a day of unrelenting toil for the Somerset bowlers in hot sunshine, with only Charl Willoughby (three wickets for 83 runs) emerging with any credit.

Openers Phil Jaques and Stephen Moore laid the foundation for Worcestershire's total with a stand of 123, to which Moore contributed 53 before being caught behind off Willoughby. His half-century had come up in 93 balls, with eight fours.

Vikram Solanki missed out, making only five before left-armer Willoughby ran a delivery across him and James Hildreth held a comfortable catch at second slip.

The score moved on to 136-2 at lunch and Somerset's hopes rested on taking wickets soon after the interval.

Instead, Jaques was dropped on 69 by Keith Parsons at first slip off Andrew Caddick and, more importantly, Smith -- on 10 -- survived a low chance to Wes Durston at third slip off Willoughby.

Jaques had looked in good form, reaching his half-century off just 58 balls, with seven fours, and it was a major surprise when he departed for 88, bowled off a thin inside edge by Willoughby.

But from 170-3 Hick and Smith took complete control, easily picking gaps in the field to maintain a healthy scoring rate without having to play big shots.

Hick was first to his century, off 128 balls, with 13 fours.

It took him above Graham Gooch in the all-time list of first-class century-makers and level with Sir Leonard Hutton in eighth place.

There was barely a false shot against opposition Hick has relished over the years.

It was his ninth first class century against Somerset and his fourth at the Taunton ground, including the quadruple hundred in 1988.

Smith used the cut shot to good effect throughout his innings and he too reached his first century of the season off 174 balls, having struck 12 boundaries.

Both batsmen enjoyed the short boundary on the town side of the ground, as well as a typical Taunton batting strip.

Hick's 150 came off 180 balls, with 19 fours and two pulled sixes off Caddick.