Justin Langer led from the front as Somerset dominated the third day of the LV County Championship match with Hampshire at Taunton.

The skipper hit 188 and shared a stand of 272 with Marcus Trescothick (151), which was Somerset's highest second-wicket partnership for 84 years and their best ever at Taunton.

The home side closed on 559-5 in their second innings, with Zander de Bruyn unbeaten on 75, and take a lead of 326 into the final day, having been 233 behind on first innings.

 Trescothick told somersetcountycc.co.uk: "We'll have to see how things go in the morning because we haven't got enough runs yet on what is now a very good batting pitch.

"If we can get the lead up around 400 we will give ourselves a chance to win. It was enjoyable batting with JL today, although things didn't come easy to me and I had to work for my runs.

"Last season we showed the character in the side by coming back from poor positions in games and we have done so again here.

"Hampshire's attack was without the likes of Chris Tremlett and Dimitri Mascarenhas, which helped, and we took advantage. It would be nice to finish the job tomorrow and we have two spinners who will enjoy bowling into the rough."

Even an overcast morning failed to aid the bowlers as Trescothick and Langer resumed on 62 and 34 respectively.

Langer's only scare came on 48 when he was caught out of his ground at the non-striker's end as Greg Lamb's throw from square-leg narrowly missed the stumps.

Trescothick soon tested the new safety net put up this morning to guard construction workers on one side of the ground. His pulled six off Sean Ervine sent the ball straight into it.

The opener reached his century off 194 balls, with 14 fours and a six. A restrained innings by his standards, it still featured some thumping drives and powerful forcing shots off the back foot.

By lunch Somerset were 281-1 and 48 in front. Langer moved to his hundred off 167 deliveries, with 12 fours, and looked in the mood to bat all day..

Trescothick survived a difficult chance on 144 before being caught down the leg side by substitute wicketkeeper Tom Burrows off David Griffiths the ball after reaching his 150. By then he had faced 265 balls and extended his boundary count to 20 fours and 2 sixes.

The scoreboard read 355-2. James Hildreth fell cheaply to James Tomlinson, but Langer went on remorselessly punishing anything loose, taking Somerset to 411-3 at tea.

The Australian finally departed when edging an off-break from Lamb to Burrows with the total on 460. He had faced 271 balls and hit 21 fours and 2 sixes.

By then de Bruyn was well set and after an indifferent start the South African Kolpak signing blossomed with some fine shots to reach an 89-ball half-century.

Ian Blackwell miscued a shot to mid-on, having made 21, which gave Tomlinson his tenth wicket of the match. But Somerset's lead was then 288, with five wickets still in hand.

Peter Trego escpaped a pair when he was dropped at slip on nought, but ended the day 21 not out.

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