COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE, Taunton:
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY THREE: Lancashire 344 and 87-2, Somerset 557-8dec (Somerset 8pts, Lancs 4pts)
9-12 September 2009

Craig Kieswetter passed his 1,000 first-class runs for the season in style.

Craig Kieswetter's career-best 153 put Somerset in a commanding position on day three against relegation-threatened Lancashire at sun-drenched Taunton.

The young South African wicketkeeper, who qualifies for England next spring, produced an exhilarating display, blasting eight sixes and 14 fours.

It helped Somerset move their overnight score of 266-3 on to 557-8 before the declaration came, with a lead of 313.

Lancashire then reached 87-2 by the close to trail by 126.

A Somerset victory would greatly enhance their chances of runners-up spot in the Championship. But they still face the problem of bowling the opposition out twice on their flat Taunton pitch.

After 19-year-old debutant Jos Buttler began the day by moving his score on from 13 to 30 before edging Glen Chapple to wicketkeeper Luke Sutton, Zander de Bruyn the chased a wide ball from Kyle Hogg on 71.

But the fireworks were about to start as Peter Trego and Kieswetter savagely set about Lancashire in a sixth-wicket stand of 183 in just two hours.

Kieswetter reached his fourth Championship century of the season off 138 balls, with three sixes and 12 fours. He then cleared the ropes five more times in taking only a further 31 deliveries to move to 150.

Trego joined in the big-hitting, collecting three sixes and eight fours, in making his runs off 98 balls and looked set to follow his team-mate to three figures when carelessly sweeping Gary Keedy to Saj Mahmood at short fine leg with the total on 533.

Kieswetter's majestic knock, passed his previous best score, made against Warwickshire at Taunton in April.

But, having also taken his tally past 1,000 first-class runs for the season, he went for one big shot too many to be caught at backward point. And, having also taken six first-innings catches (plus two more in the second innings), his efforts will not have gone unnoticed by the England selectors.

With only one game left after this, perhaps thankfully at home against a Warwickshire side who should be safe by the final week of the season, Lancashire's survival hopes are becoming weaker by the day.

Having claimed only half the available bonus points from this game they urgently need to bat throughout the final day to at least claim a draw - and four more precious points.

And their hopes would appear to reply chiefly with their two most experienced batsmen Mal Loye and V V S Laxman.

The pair were unparted last night after Luke Sutton had gone to a thin edge, followed by first-innings centurion Paul Horton.

Kieswetter nabbed both to make it eight victims so far in the match, needing four more to make English cricket history.

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