Marcus Trescothick and Justin Langer put on 272 together yesterday to give Somerset a chance of victory over Hampshire that seemed altogether improbable when they were being bowled out for 126 on the first day. The pair made 151 and 188 respectively, batting in characteristic styles that ranged from cussed to expansive.

Nothing seemed more certain than that Langer would reach the eleventh double century of his career, but he walked before being given out for a catch at the wicket in the final session, having struck 21 fours and two sixes off 271 balls.

Trescothick was taken down the leg side after hitting 20 fours and two sixes, one of which landed in the protective netting at deep mid-wicket, where the redevelopment is under way.

Hampshire struggled manfully in the field, but with the pitch flatter than at any time in the match, their attack was shown up to be as weak as it appeared on paper.

There were runs, too, for Zander de Bruyn, the Kolpak all-rounder in his first season at Somerset, who was unbeaten on 75 with eight fours off 142 balls. It was a question of when Langer would choose to declare today: a difficult situation for him given that he is without the injured Andrew Caddick, who has a neck problem, and with one K.P. Pietersen in the opposition.

Somerset: First Innings 126 (J A Tomlinson 8 for 46)

Second Innings (overnight 159-1)

M E Trescothick c sub b Griffiths151

*J L Langer c sub b Lamb 188

J C Hildreth b Tomlinson 14

Z de Bruyn not out 75

I D Blackwell c Adams b Tomlinson 21

P D Trego not out 21

Extras (b 2, lb 7, w 8, nb 22) 39

Total (5 wkts) 559

Fall of wickets: 1-83, 2-355, 3-374, 4-460, 5-521.

Bowling: Tomlinson 31-3-110-2; Griffiths 24-5-97-1; Ervine 18-0-106-0; Riazuddin 23-4-78-0; Lamb 34-6-134-2; Pietersen 4-0-16-0; Adams 3-0-9-0.

Hampshire: First Innings 359 (J P Crawley 104, KP Pietersen 100, M J Lumb 76)

Umpires: I J Gould and N J Llong.