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, produced the visitors' best opening stand of the season.

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 fail 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.

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.

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 9-32 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 just to cap Somerset's exasperation. That apart, he and Horton batted chancelessly against a side that realised the game was up. Lancashire 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 first 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, closing on 962 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 led rescue bids time and again for Somerset this season so he cannot be reproached for a rare failure. He tried to launch Keedy over mid-on but miscued 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 before the wicketkeeper was given out lbw to one from Oliver 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 50 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, while Alfonso Thomas played sensibly for his 28 before he was last man out, lifting Keedy to point.