Somerset have spent most of the season aspiring to a maiden County Championship title.

But if they slump to defeat to Hampshire this weekend they risk being dragged into an unforseen relegation battle.

Justin Langer's side began this match third in the Division One table. However, they were already nearer the bottom two than leaders Durham.

Hampshire are second from bottom and will climb to within a dozen or so points of Somerset if they win.

Somerset are staring at a battle to save the game. They closed on 98-3 in their first innings, still 301 runs short of the 399 they will need to avoid being asked to follow-on after Hampshire made 548.

Pakistani leg-spinner Imran Tahir has been their nemesis so far, claiming the first three wickets, including Langer for a duck in highly controversial circumstances.

Arul Suppiah was the first to go when he tried to turn Tahir into the leg-side and got a top edge back to the bowler for 35 to end an encouraging first wicket stand of 76 in reply to Hampshire's mammoth 548.

Then, four deliveries later, Langer was adjudged to have edged Tahir behind the wicketkeeper, where Dominic Cork, the first slip, emerged with the ball in his hand, claiming the catch.

Umpire Nick Cook raised his finger but a clearly furious Langer lingered in his crease before leaving with arms and bat flailing, insisting the ball had only hit his pad.

when he finally set off for the pavilion, the captain angrily turned back towards the pitch on a couple of occasions in an obvious display of dissent that is becoming his trademark.

Tahir's next over saw James Hildreth drive to mid-on for four to reduce Somerset to 86-3 and give Tahir his third wicket in the space of eleven balls.

The visitors now face a huge task just to survive on a unsed pitch with two days to play. Much will rest on Marcus Trescothick, who was 36 not out at the close.

Earlier, Somerset had been kept in the field for a punishing 163 overs as Hampshire accumulated their 548 at just more than three runs per over.

Their frustration in the sunshine was exacerbated by a last-wicket stand of 80 in 14 overs between man of the day Tahir and debutant spinner Danny Briggs.

Tahir smashed a career best 77 not out while 18-year-old Briggs hit five fours in his 36 until he clobbered Suppiah to Omari Banks at mid-off who took the catch to deny himself the chance of a maiden five-wicket haul for the county.

The West Indian finished with a Somerset best four for 120, having  taken three first day wickets.

Charl Willoughby was again the top paceman. He took his seasonal tally to 42 wickets when he slanted one across Nic Pothas, who was caught behind for 41, and then bowled Jimmy Adams off the inside edge for 147.

Pete Trego's umpteenth appeal for leg before wicket was upheld when he struck Dimitri Mascarenhas in front on 31 but Cork ensured Hampshire went past 400.

The former England man had made 52 when he tried to loft Max Waller for a second straight six and miscued to mid-off where Suppiah took a good catch.

Banks' fourth wicket and Somerset's tenth arrived when David Griffiths flayed the off-spinner to deep mid-off where Willoughby held the catch.

For a more detailed report pick up the next edition of the Bristol Evening Post or Western Daily Press.