TAUNTON

(day three of four): Sussex won toss

Somerset 557-8 dec; Sussex 203 and 36-1 (9.3 overs) C Hopkinson 16no, M Yardy 14no.

Lunch

Until Michael Yardy strolled across his stumps on the point of lunch and was lbw to Ben Phillips, Sussex were making steady progress towards securing the draw that still seems inevitable, on a perfect wicket in gloomy conditions.

Yardy survived on 28 when he slashed Charl Willoughby to a tumbling Ian Blackwell in the gully, and on 30 Carl Hopkinson gave a half chance pulling Peter Trego towards Ben Phillips at mid-wicket, but there were no further alarms on a quiet morning until Yardy’s dismissal.

Tea

In spite of dropping Chris Adams three times, Somerset brought this game back to life in an interrupted afternoon session by taking six wickets.

Murray Goodwin went immediately after lunch, cutting to backward point, Carl Hopkinson fell one short of a deserved half-century, shaping to play Steffan Jones to leg, Matt Prior flashed at the same bowler, Luke Wright feathered to the keeper, and at last someone (Charl Willoughby) clung on to an Adams chance, at square leg.

When Peter Trego returned just before tea Robin Martin-Jenkins, after a patient effort, was immediately caught behind driving. Only Somerset can now win this game, but the weather may be on Sussex’s side.

Close

Sussex did not detain Somerset long after tea, adding a further six runs for the loss of tail-enders Jason Lewry and Corey Collymore.

Somerset wicket-keeper Craig Kieswetter equalled his best innings return of five catches, and it was in partnership with the bustling Peter Trego that he finished off the Sussex effort. When asked to follow on 354 runs behind, Sussex lost Chris Nash to the first ball, from Charl Willoughby, to complete a miserable pair for the Sussex opener.

In fading light Carl Hopkinson and Michael Yardy hung on until the umpires sounded the retreat. Somerset will feel that only the weather can now deny them.