Lancashire 109 all out & 152-2 v Somerset 278 all out

DEAN Elgar's patient century put Somerset in a good position at Old Trafford, only for a fightback from Alex Davies and Liam Livingstone to haul Lancashire back into the contest with two days remaining. 

After 18 wickets fell on the opening day, Somerset - resuming on 153-8 - were looking to Elgar and Jack Leach to widen their first-innings lead.

And that's just what they did, in a 32-over partnership of 96.

Spinner Leach claimed his first County Championship half-century before departing for 52 off the bowling of Jordan Clark, less than an hour before lunch.

Elgar kept plugging away though, and after being joined by last man Tim Groenewald the South African batsman brought up a 205-ball century with two runs off Jimmy Anderson.

Elgar and Groenewald put on 37 before the latter fell to Kyle Jarvis, and with Elgar carrying his bat to end up on 113, Somerset led by 169.

They then hit Lancashire with a body blow as the hosts looked to respond, Lewis Gregory taking two quick wickets.

First he had Haseeb Hameed caught by Pete Trego, before removing Luke Procter's stumps to leave Lancashire 23-2.

But Davies (78*) and Livingstone (57*) hit back for the home side, their partnership dragging their team to within 17 runs of Somerset.

The visitors will hope for early wickets on Sunday morning to ease the pressure on their second innings.