SOMERSET will go into the final two games of their County Championship season in second place – but realistically the best-placed of the title contenders.

Hampshire thrashed Surrey yesterday to go top of the table as Somerset drew with Durham at Taunton.

However, the south coast club have only one game to go and look outsiders for the pennant.

Somerset, who lead Durham by two points and are three ahead of Nottinghamshire, face Yorkshire in Scarborough in a match that starts on Wednesday.

Skipper Justin Langer led them to safety yesterday with 109 not out as they closed on 181-2 in their second innings – five runs ahead of Durham, who had taken a 176-run advantage on first innings.

Langer said: "We were under pressure. They had Steve Harmison in career-best form. We weathered the storm and got a draw out of it, which is not ideal, but I would rather be in our shoes than some of the other clubs' shoes."

Langer's third century of the season was his first since May and he brought up 1,000 runs for the season during his innings.

Marcus Trescothick had been off the field for the first hour's play with a migraine. He returned and Durham batted on for 20 minutes after lunch to declare on 400-7 – just long enough for Trescothick to be allowed to open the innings.

However, after Langer had taken 14 from Harmison's opening over, Trescothick followed an away swinger from the England man and edged behind for six.

Langer's positive approach continued and he took three successive fours from one Harmison over.

James Hildreth was promoted to number three and after the break he became Harmison's second victim when he lobbed a high catch to square leg for 44.

Langer reached his 100 with a sweep off spinner Paul Wiseman to the fine leg boundary and he shook hands with visiting skipper Dale Benkenstein just after 4.30pm.

Earlier, Durham had resumed at 265-3. The first wicket was earned by Michael Munday, although it was the leg-spinner's fielding that dismissed Michael Di Venuto for 135. Phil Mustard then fell to a diving Langer for a marvellous two-handed catch before Ben Harmison gave Thomas a third wicket.

After lunch, Munday took out the adventurous Wiseman (52 from 60 balls), whose leading edge was caught and bowled.