Chilton's enterprising innings put Lancs on course for a comfortable win

Lancashire cast aside any relegation fears and ended Somerset's title hopes by closing day three at Taunton only 60 runs short of victory at 122-0.

Somerset resumed on 66-2 but added only 12 before the first wicket of the day fell, and despite a battling 55 from Ian Blackwell they were 227 all out.

Left-arm spinner Gary Keedy took 5-56 and Oliver Newby finished with match figures of 7-127, his best for Lancs.

It left Lancs with 182 to win and Mark Chilton hit 11 fours and a six in 76.

When Peter Trego got a leading edge against Keedy and was caught at extra-cover, Somerset had lost three wickets before lunch and were only 50 ahead.

Blackwell shared 71 either side of the interval with Craig Kieswetter, before the wicketkeeper was pinned lbw for 20.

The burly left-hander passed 1,000 Championship runs for the season as he reached fifty from 92 balls, but edged a flat-footed drive behind.

Wickets continued to fall, and though last man Charl Willoughby hit Keedy over long-on for six, Alfonso Thomas was the final wicket to fall, caught close in trying to reverse sweep the spinner.

Somerset's hopes of skittling out the visitors soon evaporated as Chilton and Paul Horton shared an excellent 30-over opening stand before stumps.