JUSTIN LANGER was going down fighting as Somerset's Championship title hopes ebbed away in the Taunton shadows last night.

Chasing 182 to win, Lancashire reached 122-0 at the close on day three after bowling the hosts out for 227.

The Somerset skipper was a hive of activity in the field throughout. He cajoled and encouraged and fielded in some dangerous positions close to the bat without the protection of a helmet.

But his efforts came to nothing as Mark Chilton, with 76 not out, and Paul Horton, who was on 43, held his bowlers at bay with a season's best opening stand.

It was all a little irrelevant to the title chase as well as Durham are powering remorselessly towards victory against Kent. When they passed 300 in their first innings yesterday they knew a win would ensure sufficient points for the Championship providing leaders Nottinghamshire failed to beat Hampshire.

Notts could still pull off a remarkable win chasing more than 350 today but Somerset will be only bystanders and could even finish as low as fourth if Hampshire and Durham are triumphant.

However, that would still be an achievement for Somerset fans to cherish in the winter months given where the club was two years ago.

In September 2006 they finished bottom of Division Two (as well as seventh in the second division of the Pro40 League). So much has changed in such a short space of time while Langer has been captain.

And the way Andrew Caddick bowled in the first innings here offers hope that, with a full pre-season behind him, he can be the spearhead of the attack for another title tilt next year even though he turns 40 in November.

Optimists had been thinking back to Caddick's career best spell of nine for 32 against a Lancashire side chasing less than 100 here in 1993.

But that was asking too much. Caddick had Chilton caught behind off a no-ball in the final over last night just to cap Somerset's exasperation. That apart he and Horton batted chancelessly against a side that soon realised the game was up. Lancashire will need just 60 more this morning.

Earlier, Somerset were bowled out for 227 after resuming on 66-2. Overnight batsmen James Hildreth and Zander de Bruyn were the first two to go and both fell adrift of 1,000 first class runs for the season.

Hildreth was leg before wicket half-forward to Glen Chapple for 22, meaning he closed on 962 runs for the campaign.

De Bruyn was agonisingly short of 1,000 on 997 when he edged one that turned a little from Gary Keedy to become the first of the left-arm spinner's five wickets.

Pete Trego has successfully led rescue bids time and again for Somerset this season so this time he cannot be reproached for a rare failure. He tried to launch Keedy over mid-on but miscued high to mid-off for one.

Once again it was the lower order who outscored their superiors with the final five wickets adding 131. Ian Blackwell and Craig Kieswetter added 71 for the sixth wicket until the wicketkeeper was unluckily given out lbw to one from Newby that looked to be sliding down the leg side.

When Blackwell drove Newby wide of mid-on for his sixth four he moved to fifty from 92 balls and also brought up 1,000 Championship runs in the process. But he soon tried to flay Newby through the offside without moving his feet and got a nick for 55.

Steffan Jones then miscued a slog-sweep off Keedy for one before Caddick was adjudged lbw to the former Yorkshire bowler for seven.

Last man Charl Willougby swotted Keedy for a six into the new member's stand while Alfonso Thomas played sensibly for his 28 before he was the final wicket to fall when he lifted Keedy to point.

A keen home crowd had clapped every run, plenty of leg byes and even the odd defensive block. But in their heart of hearts they knew it wasn't enough.