Yorkshire on the brink of victory

Yorkshire have every chance of improving on their third position in the First Division of the championship as they took a 218 runs first innings lead over Somerset and then had their guests at 12-2 in their second innings at Scarborough.

Both of Somerset's opening batsmen, Jamie Cox and Mark Lathwell, are already out and Yorkshire are on course to win within three days. The home county's total was built around a 130 runs partnership in 49 overs between Darren Lehmann and David Byas.

The Australian showed why he is the country's leading run-scorer as he bit a six and 10 fours in 77 runs made from 152 deliveries. Lehmann struck Ian Blackwell for a six and two fours in over and was caught at mid-off trying to hit a third.

Byas attained his first half-century of the season before he was l.b.w to Steffan Jones for 84 with 10 fours from 249 deliveries. Richard Blakey's painstaking innings of 24 runs in 145 minutes could have prevented Yorkshire from taking the full bonus points.

Chris Silverwood saved the situation with an onslaught on the bowling or Rose and Trego in which he hammered three sixes and five fours in making 48 in three less balls. He helped Yorkshire to top 400. The apparently tired West Countrymen were still 206 runs from forcing their hosts to bat again when the day ended.