TAUNTON

(Day three of four; Kent won toss)

Somerset 427 (Z de Bruyn 81, P Trego 65, M E Trescothick 57, I D Blackwell 55, J L Langer 50) and 243-8 dec (J L Langer 88, B Phillips 53 no).v Kent 208 and 163-6

Lunch

Somerset extended their lead to 462 at lunch on account of an unbeaten half century by Ben Phillips off 71 balls with six fours and a viciously pulled four off Yasir Arafat. He was quick to drive as well, once causing Steffan Jones to tumble over at the non-striker’s end with a fiercely straight driven four. This after Justin Langer, who had made 65 overnight, was out for 88, beaten by a good ball outside off stump that left him from Ryan McLaren, and Craig Kieswetter had been bowled by McLaren, shouldering arms. Jones added 42 with Phillips until he had his off stump plucked out by Martin Saggers, having made 16. Kent were without Rob Key, who had returned home to be with his wife when she gave birth, but he was expected to be back to bat at number seven in the order.

Tea

Somerset declared at lunchtime, leaving their opponents to make 463 in five sessions to win the match on a pitch that was showing no signs of breaking up. Kent began poorly, losing James Tredwell with only 12 runs on the board, caught at the wicket trying to withdraw his bat against the pace of Steffan Jones. Joe Denly responded by striking three fours in an over from Charl Willoughby and showing repeated sign of his unquestioned talent. At the other end, though, Matthew Walker was leg before to Ben Phillips shaping to play through mid wicket and Kent were 74 for three when Denly had his off stump knocked out by Jones, having made 38. The ball cut back and kept a little low. The batting order was disrupted by the absence of Rob Key, whose wife had still to give birth in a hospital in Kent.

Close

After tea, Kent lost Justin Kemp, leg before to Ian Blackwell for 16, trying to whip the ball through midwicket, and Martin van Jaarsveld caught at the wicket off a glove trying to hook Alfonso Thomas. He had made 39, which left Kent 120 for five. Then Yasir Arafat was brilliantly taken at second slip by Neil Edwards, substituted for Marcus Trescothick off the bowling of Charl Willoughby. Three interruptions for rain ensured that the match would go into a final day – and Kent’s best hope of salvaging a draw appeared to rely on the weather as much as the return of their captain, Rob Key, who had returned home to attend to his wife, who was due to give birth.