County Championship Division One - day two (close)

Somerset 122-9 v Surrey 485

COUNTY champions Surrey emphasised the gulf between themselves and nearest challengers Somerset as the hosts crumbled with the bat on the second day in Taunton.

Replying to the visitors' mammoth 485, Somerset slumped to 53-7 before reaching 122-9 by the time bad light and rain brought a premature end to the day's play.

Somerset had started the day well with the ball, taking the final seven Surrey wickets in the morning session - but not before the visitors had made their way to 485, with former Taunton favourite Dean Elgar completing his century.

Tom Abell ended with 3-52, while Tim Groenewald took 2-64 from 22.

The tone for Somerset's reply was set from the very first ball, which Marcus Trescothick edged to second slip, and before long it was 11-3.

Conor McKerr (3-20) ran through the middle order as poor shot selection saw Somerset's first seven wickets lost before the deficit was below 400.

Tom Banton, opening the batting on his First Class debut, must have wondered what to make of it all as he battled stubbornly at one end while wickets tumbled around him.

Having made his way to 30, he bottom edged a sweep on to his pad which popped up to wicketkeeper Ben Foakes, and two further wickets fell before bad light then rain intervened with Somerset on 122-9.

Josh Davey dug in well and will resume in the morning on 22, with Jack Leach at the other end unbeaten on eight.

Somerset head coach Jason Kerr said: "They put us under pressure straight away and we didn't respond well.

"There were some soft dismissals in there and when we came off Tom [Abell] had words with the players about how we should be approaching the situation.

"We have a big challenge on our hands to save the game now and we will have to bat a lot better in the second innings.

"Five days ago we were in with a shout of two trophies, but Surrey wrapped up the Championship and then it didn't go our way at Finals Day. That may have taken the wind out of our sails but we spoke about needing to park that.

"We are playing for second, we are playing for pride, and we have to be better when we bat again."