Essex rely on weather to save game at Taunton

Somerset are set to take over second place in the CricInfo Championship table if they complete victory over Essex at Taunton tomorrow.

The third day ended with the visitors surviving the extra half hour at 189-8, having followed-on. But they still need 96 to avoid an innings defeat and bad weather appears their only hope of avoiding bottom place when the current round of matches is completed.

Essex had resumed their first innings on 34-3 after drizzle delayed the start by half an hour and soon wickets were falling steadily to Richard Johnson (4-43) and Steffan Jones (3-34), who both swung the ball in the overcast conditions.

Off-spinner Keith Dutch had another day to remember, following up his maiden first-class century by taking three sharp slip catches as Essex were bowled out for 130, and then claiming 4-57 off 27 overs in their second innings.

Only Ronnie Irani (40) and Graham Napier, who hit three defiant sixes in his 38, offered much first innings resistance in a sorry batting display on a blameless pitch.

Things proved no easier for Essex second time around. At tea they were 104-3, still 181 runs from making Somerset bat again.

Dutch sent back Darren Robinson with his first ball of the innings and flighted the ball well to also account for James Foster, Napier and Ashley Cowan, the last of them to a first-ball duck, caught at leg slip by Peter Bowler.

When Irani fell for a battling 57, having reached his half-century off 110 balls with seven fours, the score had slumped to 174-8 and it looked as though the final day would not be needed.

But Mark Ilott and Justin Bishop dug in with good application as poor light forced Somerset to concentrate almost exclusively on spin in the extra half-hour.