The 20-year-old pace prospect proved too hot to handle for the Somerset batsmen as they replied to 326 for four declared with 245 for seven before declaring themselves 81 runs behind as Matt Wood top-scored with 55.

By the close the tourists had extended their advantage to 207 by posting 126 for two. Gary Kirsten followed up his first-innings 66 with a watchful 42, while Boeta Dippenaar was 52 not out and with only one day to go the match looks to be heading for a draw.

Somerset resumed on 38 for no wicket after rain had delayed the start until 12.45pm and the opening pair of Wood and South African James Bryant took the total to 100 in the final over before lunch before being parted.

Wood had moved confidently to his first half-century of the season, off 76 balls, with 10 fours, several of them clipped through mid-wicket, when trapped lbw by a full length delivery from left-arm seamer Charl Willoughby.

Bryant had been dropped on 18 by Kirsten above his head at slip off Willoughby and went on to make 39 before having his off-stump knocked back by a Zondeki yorker in the first over after lunch.

Keith Parsons looked in no sort of form and was dropped by Herschelle Gibbs before being picked up by the same player at third slip for one to give Zondeki his second wicket. The young seamer, making only his 14th first-class appearance, was working up good pace from the Old Pavilion End and added Ian Blackwell to his victims after a strange cameo innings by the England one-day international.

Blackwell had raced to 19 with some streaky as well as some fine shots before departing to a mistimed hook. From 100 for none, Somerset had subsided to 144 for four. Mike Burns (35) and Carl Gazzard (27) played positively, while Aaron Laraman's carefully-compiled 41 not out pushed Somerset towards 250.

When they closed five runs short of that figure there was a chance for Gibbs to play himself back into form. But the South African opener could manage only 17 before edging a lifting delivery from Steffan Jones to wicketkeeper Gazzard.

Kirsten and Dippenaar took the score comfortably to 99 before Kirsten got a leading edge to off-spinner Wes Durston and lobbed a catch to cover. Dippenaar looked in good nick as he went on to a half-century off 66 balls with nine fours.

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