Record-breaker Robin Martin-Jenkins put Sussex on victory course with a maiden double century, then admitted: "This is more fun than bowling."

The ever-improving all-rounder hit 205 not out and helped Mark Davis compile the county's best ever eighth wicket stand as the cricketers added to a memorable sporting weekend for Sussex.

Somerset were just starting to claw their way back into the contest when Martin-Jenkins and Davis came together midway through Saturday afternoon at Taunton.

By the time Davis edged to slip yesterday, the pair had smashed a 100-year-old record for the county by adding 291 for the eighth wicket, just one short of an all-time Championship best for any county.

They had also set Sussex on the way to their best score for 81 years, their fourth biggest of all-time, and, perhaps more importantly, firmly shut the door on a Somerset side looking to overhaul them in the Championship's top flight.

The visitors finished the job in the glorious early evening sunshine, dismissing their hosts for 373 to win by an innings and one run.

Martin-Jenkins, whose only previous ton came in the Division Two title clincher against Gloucestershire last season, batted just 233 balls for the 205 which takes him top of the county's run-scoring list.

Most of his 29 fours were thanks to impeccable timing and he added an astonishing six hooked over the old grandstand off Welsh paceman Steffan Jones.

Davis had 12 fours and three sixes in his 186-ball knock, all this after Tony Cottey and Tim Ambrose had set the tone for the weekend by guiding Sussex past their hosts' inadequate first innings score.

Martin-Jenkins admitted: "Because I'm a bowling all-rounder this is so much more enjoyable than getting a five-for or even a seven or eight-for.

"Batting is more fun than bowling full stop because you don't have to put so much effort in. You just stand there and hit the ball.

"There's no better feeling than hitting the ball in the middle of the bat."

Davis's first ever century was made all the more remarkable given he batted most of the innings with a broken left hand after being struck by Jones.

As a right arm bowler, it did not prevent him taking the key wicket of Michael Burns, pushing forward to the spinner's first over having smashed the previous ball straight back over him to move to 98.

Davis later grabbed a superb return catch off Keith Dutch to follow an opening four-wicket salvo from Jason Lewry, which included Jamie Cox in the opening over and Peter Bowler and Keith Parsons with the first two balls after lunch.

Ian Blackwell, dropped by second slip Richard Montgomeire off Kevin Innes on four, went on to make 114 before Billy Taylor had him caught behind as the first of three quick wickets.

The last pair, who added 63 in the first innings, managed 67 this time before Matthew Bulbeck edged Taylor to Ambrose going for the big swing which would have forced Sussex to bat again.

They now have an extra day to prepare for Wednesday's trip to Edgbaston and are giving Chris Adams a 70 per cent chance of recovering from his torn calf muscle in time for that.

Mike Yardy is likely to be ruled out by knee ligament damage but Matt Prior, whose bruised hands persuaded him to give the gloves to Tim Ambrose, should be back to full fitness.