Marcus Trescothick and Justin Langer are batting Somerset back into the LV County Championship match with Hampshire at Taunton.

The two left-handers were together at the close of the second day, which came with their side 159-1 in the second innings. Trescothick was unbeaten on 62, while Langer was 34 not out.

Neil Edwards contributed a half-century and it was Somerset's day after they had bowled out Hampshire for 359 to concede a lead of 233.

That deficit had been reduced to 74 by the end of play and now there is hope of setting the visitors a challenging final innings target.

Pace bowler Ben Phillips, who claimed 3-62 to help restrict the Hampshire total, told somersetcountycc.co.uk: "There is already some sign of turn for the spinners and we have two in the side so hopefully we can get into a position to exert some pressure.

"We just have to get as many runs as possible tomorrow and see where it takes us. Michael Munday turns the ball on most pitches and could be a valuable weapon, along with Ian Blackwell.

"We have done well to get ourselves back in contention and it's a case of building on that good work in the morning."

Hampshire began the day on 194-3 and soon lost night-watchman David Griffiths. But John Crawley, unbeaten on 78 overnight, moved to a chanceless hundred off 189 balls, with 15 fours.

Phillips broke a stand of 32 with Michael Lumb by having Crawley caught low down by Trescothick at second slip with the total 234-5. Lumb and Pothas then added 47 before the latter fell to the first ball after lunch.

Pothas had suffered a calf injury running between the wickets in the morning session and came out with a runner, only to depart lbw to Willoughby's opening delivery for 25.

Sean Ervine was bowled by Phillips shouldering arms for 16 and it was 322-8 when Greg Lamb was lbw trying to sweep Ian Blackwell.

Hamza Riazuddin lofted a full toss from Blackwell to mid-on and Lumb was last man out, having faced 142 balls and hit 11 fours in a solid innings of 76.

Trescothick and Edwards soon eat into Hampshire's lead on a drier pitch than they had batted on in the first innings.

Edwards moved powerfully to a half-century off 69 balls, with a six and 7 fours, only to give his wicket away immediately afterwards by lifting a Lamb full toss to James Tomlinson at mid-on.

Langer came in on a pair, but the Somerset skipper was soon away with a cover driven four off Lamb and was dangerously poised at the close.

Trescothick had been unusually restrained in reaching his fifty off 100 deliveries, with 6 fours and a six into the River Tone off Lamb. But he too will be looking to cash in tomorrow.

Pothas was unable to keep wicket for Hampshire because of his injury and his replacement Michael Brown soon suffered a damaged finger, forcing his team, with Somerset's permission, to draft in second XI keeper Tom Burrows, who was not in the 11 named for the game.

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