COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE, Taunton:
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY THREE: Hampshire 284, Somerset 392-7
Somerset 7pts, Hampshire 4pts
Match scorecard

Hildreth's century included 18 fours and one six

James Hildreth struck an unbeaten 128 to edge title-chasing Somerset towards safety on day three against Hampshire at Taunton.

Resuming on 16-1, the home side found themselves in trouble at 128-4.

However, Hildreth added 155 for the fifth wicket with Zander de Bruyn (95) to help the hosts to 392-7 at stumps.

Hampshire seamer James Tomlinson kept the visitors' hopes of a result alive by taking 4-62, but a draw now looks like the most likely outcome.

Hildreth's sixth century of the season came on a day that saw Hampshire lose two bowlers to injury.

Worryingly close to Saturday's FP t20 finals day, skipper Dominic Cork and all-rounder Sean Irvine both left the field for treatment.

After a slow start that saw the early exit of nightwatchman Alfonso Thomas for five, Somerset looked in trouble at four down.

However, the injury to Cork plus a dropped catch offered by Craig Kieswetter (43) allowed the home side to regroup and push past Hampshire's first-innings total of 284.

South African de Bruyn looked set to score a century of his own, but a mistimed reverse sweep saw Danny Briggs knock back his stumps.

The runs kept coming as Jos Buttler (20) and Peter Trego (32) kept Hildreth company as Somerset piled on the runs.

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