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.

But 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, go to Scarborough to face Yorkshire 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.

"The whole season has been like an arm wrestle and this game has been the same. Division One is hard core cricket and it reflects how close it is and how many good players there are."

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. "I have been hitting a lot of balls the last couple of weeks," he said.

"I know from my experience if I do that then eventually the runs will come. I was disappointed not to go on in the first innings as patchy as that innings was but I was happy to get the reward today."

The Australian knows one win could clinch the title. "I just hope the weather stays alright for the next two weeks," he said. "It is so frustrating when you can't get a result because you don't get to sing the team song and if you can't do that everything gets a bit flat. We need a result to boost the morale within the group."

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 former England man and edged behind for six.

Langer's positive approach continued and he took three successive fours – all drilled through the off side – from one Harmison over.

James Hildreth was promoted to number three and after an understandably careful start he began to show glimpses of his class.

Mark Davies, who had taken 36 wickets at the unbelievable average of 12 apiece before this game, was launched over mid-wicket for four by the former England Lions man.

Former Somerset player Graham Burgess was given a guard of honour and a tankard from the club before the resumption after tea to mark his final game as a first-class umpire.

After the break Hildreth 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 for his 18th four from his 101st delivery 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.

Benkenstein flicked the ball to deep mid-wicket and he and Di Venuto tried to hustle back for a second. But Munday's throw was accurate to Alfonso Thomas at the bowler's end and the Australian was well short of his ground.

Phil Mustard then tried to drill Thomas over mid-off but a diving Langer held on to a marvellous two-handed catch. Ben Harmison gave Thomas a third wicket when he drove him to Hildreth at short extra cover for five.

After lunch Munday took a wicket of his own when the adventurous Wiseman (52 from 60 balls) got a leading edge and was caught and bowled.

Meanwhile, Somerset are set to lodge an application for permanent leave to remain for Malaysia-born all-rounder Arul Suppiah.

The 25-year-old has lived in England since he was 13 but if the club are not successful in obtaining leave or a renewal of his work permit he will have to return to his country of birth at the end of the season.

Suppiah spent six months in Australia in 2005-06 which has prevented him from qualifying by residence. The left-arm spinner has been offered a new two-year contract.

Government regulations prevent an application being lodged before an individual's work permit is due to run out. However, the club are confident they will be successful in at least one of their applications, meaning he should be able to remain in the UK.