Yorkshire took maximum batting points and a lead of 34 over title challengers Somerset at Scarborough but their relegation fears actually deepened.

That was because rivals Lancashire pulled off a surprise win over Kent.

On day three of their match, Yorkshire were bowled out for 414 before Somerset, bidding for the title, closed on 25-0 in their second innings.

A fighting 128 by Anthony McGrath and a polished 98 from Jacques Rudolph helped guide the Yorkshire innings.

Somerset's bowlers stuck to their task, led by Alfonso Thomas who finished with 5-84.

McGrath had already completed his half-century when Yorkshire began the third day on 121-1.

He and Rudolph punished anything short or wayward and Yorkshire lunched at a healthy 236-2.

The stand expanded still further after the interval, reaching 141 in 40 overs before McGrath perished to the second new ball, his off-stump sent spinning out of the ground by Thomas.

In his next over, Thomas had Richard Pyrah caught behind and when Tim Bresnan suffered a similar fate against Zander de Bruyn, Yorkshire were 318-5.

The watchful Rudolph looked certain to complete his sixth century of the season but when he was two short of the landmark he was caught at first slip by Justin Langer off the gloves of wicketkeeper Craig Kieswetter.

It was the only wicket of the innings for Andy Caddick, who toiled away for 28 overs in all, costing 100 runs.