COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE, Taunton:
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY THREE: Somerset 326, Yorkshire 438 & 329-5(Yorks 8pts, Somerset 6pts)
30 June - 3 July 2009 (Play begins at 1100 BST)

Sayers' total of 152 was his second century of the season

Joe Sayers hit 152 as Yorkshire gained a 441-run lead over Somerset going into the final day at Taunton on Friday.

Somerset had started the day on 326-9 but were unable to add to their first-innings total as Charl Willoughby was caught off Matthew Hoggard.

Jacques Rudolph fell for a second-ball duck with Anthony McGrath (25) following with Yorkshire at 58-2.

But Sayers and Adam Lyth (71) frustrated the Somerset bowlers as the visitors ended on 329-5.

The afternoon session belonged to the pair as they put on a partnership of 122 in 37 overs but Jonathan Bairstow also added an important contribution, ending the day on 54 not out.

Sayers, who was dropped at 30 by James Hildreth at gully, was eventually bowled off the first ball in the final over of the day by Zander de Bruyn to end play.

The home side were left to count the cost of dropped catches with Lyth also being let off early on, when Justin Langer failed to grab an edge at slip with the batsman on just three runs.

Willoughby was the best of Somerset's bowlers, ending the day on 2-39 from his 19 overs but David Stiff could only add one wicket to his first-innings haul of four when Lyth was caught by Craig Kieswetter.

Yorkshire are looking to end a run of 17 first-class games without a victory.

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