County Championship - day three (close)

Somerset 392 trail Notts 134 & 468-8 by 210 runs

DOM Bess took two vital late wickets to raise Somerset's hopes of forcing victory over Nottinghamshire in Taunton.

Bess, who had otherwise been off-colour and ended the day with 2-115 from 27.1 overs, removed Tom Moores with the final ball of the day shortly after the batsman had brought up his maiden First Class century having earlier broken the promising stand between Moores and Billy Root (36).

Roelof van der Merwe took four wickets as Somerset ended 210 runs behind needing two further wickets on the final day.

Resuming on 112-0, Steve Mullaney and Jake Libby took the opening stand to 145 before the latter was trapped in front by Davey for 69.

Mullaney progressed to 94 before he too fell lbw, providing van der Merwe with his first scalp, and the spinner then clean bowled Ross Taylor (5) as the New Zealand international attempted a cut to a delivery which was too full and straight for such a shot.

Samit Patel and Chris Nash dug in to add 108 for the fourth wicket and halt the hosts' momentum, but both fell with the score on 299 as Nash (66) was bowled by Davey and Patel (55) was lbw to van der Merwe.

Van der Merwe made Riki Wessels his fourth victim when the batsman was pinned in front attempting a sweep on 19 to leave Nottinghamshire on 338-6, a lead of 80.

Moores and Billy Root put on 118 for the seventh wicket, both playing positively with Moores visibly delighted when he reached his maiden ton, having lost the company of Root when on 98.

He couldn't quite see out the day, however, trapped in front by Bess on 103 having helped his side into a position which could yet leave Somerset with a challenging chase.

Speaking afterwards, Roelof van der Merwe - who ended the day with 4-114 from 43 overs - said: "It's not often I've bowled that many overs in a day but it was enjoyable.

"It's a typical Somerset wicket - it becomes better on days three and four.

"The late wickets have put us in a good position but they played well - Tom Moores took the attack to us.

"The pitch has some assistance for spin but we would be confident chasing anything around 250, so hopefully we can take those final two wickets quickly."

Nottinghamshire centurion Tom Moores said: "It's always nice to get the first one and get the monkey off your back.

"I'm gutted to have got out at the end - I don't know why but when it's the last over your attitude changes. If that ball had been in a normal over I'd probably have played it differently.

"We've got ourselves into a half-decent position and we'll back ourselves to defend whatever we set."