Revitalised Ian Harvey plundered his career-best score of 161 not out to charge Yorkshire on to 401 for seven and maximum batting bonus points against Somerset at Headingley yesterday.

The Australian all-rounder also featured in an unbroken stand of 174 with Tim Bresnan (48 not out), the highest in the county's history for the eighth wicket against Somerset.

It beat the previous best of 151 between Wilfred Rhodes and Lord Hawke at Taunton exactly 100 years ago.

On his debut for Yorkshire last April, Harvey knocked up 95 against Essex before going off the boil and in his ten other innings in the competition he managed only a further 172 runs.

Any thoughts that Harvey's best years may be behind him were quickly dispelled as he rallied his side by cruising to a century off 128 deliveries with 13 boundaries, striking the ball powerfully through the covers and mid-wicket.

He said: "Things did not go very well for me last years because of injuries and going back to Australia twice. I never really seemed to settle but I came determined to make amends this year."

Harvey looked in complete control, apart from one slice of luck on 96 when he attempted to reach three figures in the grand manner by driving Ian Blackwell over the top, only to sky him to deep mid-off where Andy Caddick put down a fairly easy chance.

Harvey soon afterwards completed his first century since 2003 when he hit an unbeaten 128 for Gloucestershire - with Somerset once again soaking up the punishment.

Once past three figures he really broke loose and was particularly severe on former England bowler Caddick, off whom he took ten boundaries during the day.

When Harvey came in to a standing ovation, he had received 179 balls for his 161 and hammered 25 boundaries.

The other major innings came from opener Matthew Wood who followed up his totesport League century at the Oval last Sunday with a bristling 95 off 174 balls with ten fours and a pulled six.

After spending three rain-hit days in the field at Chelmsford last week, Yorkshire probably had few complaints at being put in to bat by Somerset, particularly as the pitch played well throughout the day.

Wood and Phil Jaques made excellent progress against the new ball pairing of Caddick and Nixon McLean and they put on 63 runs quite efficiently until Jaques played round a ball from Richard Johnson and edged into his stumps.

Anthony McGrath soon drove untidily at Aaron Laraman to be caught in the slips and Michael Lumb leaned across to be lbw to Caddick, but Harvey announced himself by thrashing his first two deliveries from Caddick through the off-side for four.

Wood looked set for a faultless century until Nixon McLean went round the wicket and angled a ball across him which was nicked to wicketkeeper Rob Turner, who was stood up to the stumps.

McLean struck two further blows to dismiss Craig White and Ismail Dawood in a spell which brought him three wickets in eight balls.

Somerset were feeling pretty pleased with themselves when they had Yorkshire on 227 for seven but then Harvey, splendidly supported by Bresnan, then put all their bowlers to the sword.