Somerset are closing in on top spot in the County Championship after setting Kent 463 to win and then taking six second-innings wickets.

Justin Langer's 88 and Ben Phillips' unbeaten 53 enabled Somerset to declare their second inning at lunch on 243-8.

Kent were forced to reply without their captain Robert Key, who was attending the birth of his second child.

Martin van Jaarsveld weighed in with 39 and Joe Denly 38 but the visitors were reduced to 163-6 by stumps at Taunton.

It is unclear whether Key, whose wife Fleur has given birth to a son, will return to bat on day four.

Kent still require another 300 and their only hope of staving off defeat appears more bad weather.

Somerset began the day on 129-5 and soon lost Craig Kieswetter, who played a ball from Ryan McLaren onto his stumps.

Langer, unbeaten on 65 overnight, was caught behind, driving at the same bowler, having faced 130 balls and hit 10 fours in a key innings for his side.

Phillips then revelled against his former county, reaching a first half-century for Somerset off 71 deliveries, with six fours and a six over deep square off Yasir Arafat.

Steffan Jones and Alfonso Thomas chipped in before the declaration, which left Kent with a minimum of 162 overs to reach their target.

That never looked likely as Jones had James Tredwell caught behind with the score on 12 and Phillips pinned Matthew Walker leg-before.

Denly seldom looked troubled by the Somerset attack and it came as a surprise when he had his off stump knocked back by Jones.

After a rain interruption and tea, Justin Kemp was lbw on the back foot to the left-arm spin of Ian Blackwell and Thomas picked up the important wicket of Van Jaarsveld, caught behind gloving an attempted hook.

It was 145-six when Arafat was well caught by substitute fielder Neil Edwards at second slip but two more short breaks for rain held up Somerset's victory push.

Geraint Jones and McLaren negotiated the final five overs of the day, but Kent still have a mountain to climb.