Somerset on course for victory

Steffan Jones took two wickets as Somerset dominated © Getty Images

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Somerset closed in on their third championship win of the season after setting Kent 463 to win on the third day.

The home side declared their second innings at lunch on 243 for eight, with skipper Justin Langer having contributed 88 and Ben Phillips 53 not out. Ryan McLaren took three for 57.

Kent were without captain Robert Key, home attending the birth of his second child, when they were reduced to 163 for six, Martin van Jaarsveld top-scoring with 39.

It was not clear whether Key, whose wife Fleur has given birth to a son, will return to bat tomorrow. Kent still require another 300 and their only hope appears more bad weather.

Somerset began the day on 129 for five and soon lost Craig Kieswetter, who played a ball from McLaren onto his stumps, having made seven.

Langer, unbeaten on 65 overnight, was caught behind, driving at the same bowler, having faced 130 balls and hit 10 fours in a key innings for his side.

Phillips then enjoyed himself against his old county, reaching a first fifty for Somerset off 71 deliveries, with six fours and a six over deep square off Yasir Arafat.

Steffan Jones (16) and Alfonso Thomas (19 not out) chipped in before the closure, which left Kent with a minimum of 162 overs to reach their target.

It never looked on as Jones had James Tredwell caught behind with the score on 12. Matthew Walker made 22 before being pinned lbw by Phillips to make it 54 for two.

Joe Denly looked in little trouble and it was a surprise when, having scored 38, he had his off stump knocked back by Jones. Tea was taken at 81 for three when rain brought the first interruption.

Justin Kemp was then lbw on the back foot to the left-arm spin of Ian Blackwell and Thomas picked up the important wicket of van Jaarsveld, caught behind gloving an attempted hook.

It was 145 for six when Arafat was well caught by substitute fielder Neil Edwards at second slip, driving at Charl Willoughby, but two more short breaks for rain held up Somerset’s victory push.

Just five overs were left in the day after the second of those stoppages. They were negotiated by Geraint Jones (21 not out) and McLaren, but Kent still had a mountain to climb.

The wickets had been shared by five Somerset bowlers, with Jones claiming two for 38 from 11 overs. No Kent batsman has yet reached 40 in the game.