Trescothick scores freely to enable Somerset to take control

The hosts resumed on 303-5 and Hales, along with captain Chris Read (48), quickly added runs.

Andre Adams (33) also scored quickly before Hales was caught behind off the bowling of Charl Willoughby, who picked up the last three wickets in three consecutive overs.

Somerset started their second innings 106 runs in arrears but the deficit was soon wiped out as Marcus Trescothick (86) scored freely.

The Somerset captain fell to Stuart Broad, but Nick Compton then made an unbeaten 46 as the visitors took control, closing on 197-2 – a lead of 91.

Sussex’s match against Hampshire was finely balanced going into the final day at Hove with the hosts reaching 82-3 at the close as they chased 233 for victory.

Hampshire resumed the day on 61-2 and were steered through to 266 all out by a half-century from Michael Carberry.

Nightwatchman Danny Briggs had started the day by frustrating Sussex with 21 before Rana Naved-ul-Hasan got some extra bounce and found his outside edge.

Neil McKenzie (34) also fell victim to Panesar before the Hampshire lower order weighed in with some important runs – captain Dominic Cork made 25 and Kabir Ali added 32.

Cork delivered a beauty that surprised Sussex opener Ed Joyce (16) for bounce on its way through to Michael Bates.

Briggs then took centre stage as the left-arm spinner held a return catch to dismiss Sussex’s other opener Chris Nash before captain Murray Goodwin became his 100th first-class victim in his next over, caught by Liam Dawson at silly mid-off.

Sussex’s hopes are now resting largely on Luke Wells (29 not out) and England wicketkeeper Matt Prior (2no).

In Division Two, Essex revived their promotion hopes with a crushing 254-run victory over Leicestershire at Grace Road.