SOMERSET look set to go into the final Championship game of the season trailing leaders Nottinghamshire by eight points.

Justin Langer's side look sure to draw with Yorkshire at Scarborough while Notts comfortably saw off Surrey at the Oval yesterday, thrashing them by an innings and 143 runs.

Somerset are likely to be in second place when Lancashire visit Taunton while Notts are at home to a Hampshire team who will still have the slimmest of outside chances of the title. Both games start on Wednesday.

A dried out pitch and some stubborn batting kept Somerset in the field for most of the day yesterday as Yorkshire were finally all out for 414 – a first innings lead of 34 runs. In reply Somerset reached 25-0 in the six overs possible to reduce the deficit to just nine.

Importantly, Somerset collected full bowling points for taking nine wickets inside 130 overs.

Alfonso Thomas was the most effective of their attack with five dismissals.

Thomas' analysis of five for 84 from 23 overs with four maidens was his second five-wicket haul for the club, following his 5-46 in the reverse fixture at Taunton in June.

The South African collected the first three scalps of the day after Yorkshire had resumed on 121-1.

He removed the impressive Adam Lyth for 65 in similar fashion to the exit of Michael Vaughan yesterday, skying a hook to Andrew Caddick at mid-on.

But from 146-2 Anthony McGrath cruised on to his century, pushing Ian Blackwell square for a single to bring up three figures. McGrath had hit 15 boundaries from 173 balls.

He was next to go in a productive afternoon session for Somerset. The veteran missed a nip-backer from Thomas to be bowled for 128 and in the Kolpak's next over he induced an edge behind from Richard Pyrah for two.

Zander de Bruyn's had Tim Bresnan (6) taken by wicketkeeper Craig Kieswetter courtesy of a regulation edge. All the while former South Africa batsman Jacques Rudolph was playing in his usual, uncomplicated style and it was a surprise when he missed out on his century by two runs.

Caddick had just been berated by the home crowd with shouts of 'retire' as a wicketless over came to an end. The 39-year-old's next offering saw him slant one across Rudolph, who edged it. The ball deflected off Kieswetter's gloves and into the hands Langer at first slip.

Gerard Brophy then missed a straight ball from Thomas to be bowled for 16 before Darren Gough quickly came and went for six after Thomas beat him for pace to have him leg before.

Adil Rashid, who was dropped by Langer at slip off Pete Trego on 11, was the ninth wicket to fall when he advanced down the pitch to Blackwell before being beaten by the turn and stumped by Kieswetter for 27.

Matthew Hoggard's imperious cover drive for four off his old pal Caddick took Yorkshire into the lead and a pull to the mid-wicket fence just rubbed salt in the wound.

Number 11 Deon Kruis thumped Caddick through the covers to bring up Yorkshire's 400 – every point is crucial for the Tykes in their battle against relegation.

Caddick looked short of a gallop. Thomas had earlier taken the second new ball instead of him and, assuming he is injury-free, the wisdom of his omission from the previous game against Durham must be questioned given the fact that he is a bowler who needs overs to find his rhythm. De Bruyn (11.4-3-28-2) ended the innings after Hoggard and Kruis had added 39 – the third highest partnership. The former Worcestershire man's bouncer was deflected by Hoggard (15) into the hands of a diving James Hildreth at second slip. Kruis was left 24 not out.

In reply, Marcus Trescothick was unable to open as he had been off the field all day nursing a shoulder injury suffered in the warm-up so Kieswetter went in at the top for the first time in the Championship. As bad light set in the spinners, Rashid and Michael Vaughan, were quickly brought on to keep the players out there but the wicketkeeper and Arul Suppiah survived comfortably enough.