Somerset struggle

Lancashire took a giant stride towards First Division County Championship survival at Blackpool while pushing Somerset nearer to relegation yesterday.

Somerset will resume today needing another 387 with nine second-innings wickets remaining for a win which began to look increasingly unlikely throughout a second day's play dominated by the hosts.

James Anderson put Lancashire in firm control by polishing off Somerset's first innings with a four-wicket burst that earned him figures of 6 for 41 and his side a lead of 111. Somerset set nerves jangling by striking twice early in the second innings. Openers Mark Chilton and Alec Swann were both back in the pavilion with just six runs on the board.

David Byas and Chris Schofield then took over with an assured sixth-wicket stand of 122 as Lancashire posted a formidable target of 408. Somerset did reduce the target by 21 in the remaining nine overs before the close but crucially lost their captain Jamie Cox for one, lbw to Peter Martin.