County Championship Division One - day three (close)

Somerset 324 & 202 v Essex 191 & 147-1

ESSEX made a superb start to their pursuit of 336 to set up an intriguing final day's play in Taunton.

The visitors require a further 189 runs to win having lost only Varun Chopra (24) in the 43 overs before the close, with Nick Browne (75*) and Tom Westley (43*) both going well.

Somerset's bowlers, with the exception of Jack Leach, struggled to maintain consistency as they toiled in their search for early breakthroughs.

The hosts had earlier lost wickets at regular intervals en route to 202 all out as they left a target which, though challenging, offered more than enough encouragement to the visitors given the time remaining in the match.

Nightwatchman Dom Bess (12) fell early and the innings thereafter saw numerous batsmen make starts before failing to kick on.

The top score came from opener Eddie Byrom, who worked hard for his 42 before becoming one of four victims to spinner Simon Harmer, who also accounted for Azhar Ali (23), Tom Abell (27) and Lewis Gregory (11) in a superb spell which yielded 4-69 from 25 overs.

Peter Siddle added 2-49 to his first innings five-fer as Somerset's batsmen came and went, giving renewed hope to a visiting side who had been second best over the course of the first two days.

Leach was the only Somerset bowler to interrupt Essex's steady progress with the bat after the hosts had been bowled out, trapping Chopra plumb in front, and he bowled with a control that was lacking among the rest of the attack.

They will have to step up tomorrow if the hosts are to claim the nine wickets required - the first session will be crucial.

Somerset head coach Jason Kerr said: "There was a real opportunity for us to make a huge score and make sure there was only one winner. We got a lot of starts and Eddie Byrom played really well, but nobody went on to post that really big score and it has left the game in the balance.

"The pitch seems to flatten out and solidify as the days go on, but hopefully there will be something in it for us tomorrow. 

“Jack Leach bowled beautifully for us this afternoon and one of the things we pride ourselves on here is going for under three an over through the summer.

"He was the only bowler to do that. We only bowled five maidens, of which Jack bowled four, and it’s great to see him back."