Yorkshire take charge at Somerset

Somerset were left to rue poor catching as Yorkshire took firm charge of their Championship match at Taunton.

In their second innings, the visitors are 329-5 – a lead of 441 with five wickets in hand going into the final day.

Given the flat nature of the Taunton pitch, Justin Langer's supremely talented batting side could still salvage a draw or even pull off an unlikely victory.

They scored at more than four runs per over in their first innings and there is little sign of deterioration in the surface, but they could have made their task much easier had they held three opportunities before lunch.

Arul Suppiah, James Hildreth and Langer were the culprits. Had all three been taken, Yorkshire would have been no better than 62-4 and leading by just 174 with only inexperienced players or tail-enders to come.

After being bowled out for 326, Somerset enjoyed a dream start to Yorkshire's second innings when history repeated itself for the second time in the match.

Last year Jacques Rudolph made a big first day hundred and followed it up by edging Charl Willoughby behind for a duck. Yesterday, having made 191 on Tuesday, he added another nought to his Taunton record when he nicked Willoughby to slip.

Anthony McGrath was bowled by Willoughby for 25, but Joe Sayers, who was dropped on 30, went on to make a stoic 152 from 283 balls with 20 fours and a six.

Left-hander Adam Lyth was also dropped early on and he made 71 before finally being caught behind. Andrew Gale (16) was also dismissed, but Jonathan Bairstow (54 not out) took the lead past 400 before Sayers was bowled by Zander de Bruyn off the last ball of the day.