Luke Sutton made his first century in almost three years to claw Lancashire out of trouble on the opening day of their LV= County Championship match with Somerset at Old Trafford.

The wicketkeeper, who had not scored a half-century in his previous 26 Championship games, was promoted to opener following a hamstring injury to Tom Smith.

And the 33-year-old revelled in the role, hitting 18 fours on his way to 118 as Lancashire made 292 in their first innings having won the toss.

Somerset were 14 for one in reply at the close after Arul Suppiah played the last ball of the day off Kyle Hogg onto his own stumps.

Australian Damien Wright was the pick of the Somerset bowlers, taking five for 41, with Alfonso Thomas claiming three for 84.

But they will be kicking themselves for letting Lancashire off the hook.

Sutton, who started his career at Somerset, shared century partnerships with Mark Chilton and Sajid Mahmood to rescue Lancashire from 27 for three and then 175 for seven.

James Hildreth then dropped Sutton on 85, after which the home side added another 107 and picked up two batting bonus points.

Mahmood hit his second half-century of the campaign, with his quick-fire 64 including nine boundaries and a huge six off spinner Michael Munday.

But Lancashire, who have won two of their opening three games in the Championship, were in real trouble after the first hour, with Wright claiming the wickets of Stephen Moore, Paul Horton and Ashwell Prince in his opening nine-over spell.

Sutton and Chilton then steadied the ship with a stand of 104 before the former Lancashire skipper was trapped lbw nine short of his half-century just after lunch by Thomas.

It was the first of three wickets in five overs for the South African-born seamer.

Steven Croft failed to reach 50 for the first time in the Championship this season as he holed out to Zander de Bruyn at fine leg, Kyle Hogg then edged Thomas behind to Jos Buttler and when Glen Chapple ran himself out going for a crazy single, Lancashire had lost four wickets for just 44 runs.

But just when it looked like they would miss out on any batting points, Sutton and Mahmood went on the attack and put on 100 in just 115 balls.

Sutton's innings, his second highest for Lancashire, was eventually ended by a brilliant catch by Buttler down leg side in the 80th over, and he was greeted with a standing ovation from the Old Trafford crowd as he made his way back to the pavilion.

Mahmood followed three deliveries later as he was bowled by a slower ball from Wright.

And the Victoria seamer, who makes way for new overseas signing Murali Kartik after Somerset's next Championship game against Hampshire, clinched his five-wicket haul when Daren Powell was caught by Nick Compton in the deep.