Lancashire's last-wicket pair frustrate Somerset

Glen Chapple hit a brilliant career-best 155 to rescue Lancashire in their top three Cricinfo Championship clash against Somerset at Old Trafford.

Lancashire were in deep trouble at 82 for six after choosing to bat first when Chapple joined Chris Schofield.

But thanks to Chapple's century - his second in first-class cricket although the first came against Glamorgan joke bowlers in 1993 - they reached 324 all out, with Somerset scoring 77 for the loss of Piran Holloway in reply.

Chapple was supported superbly by Gary Keedy in a last-wicket stand of 129 in 28 overs which secured three batting points for Lancashire.

The 27-year-old's 155 came from 164 balls with 15 fours and six sixes - two hooked off Steffan Jones, and four off the Somerset spinners.

Yet the first session had belonged conclusively to Somerset.

Richard Johnson trapped Mark Chilton lbw and had Jamie Haynes caught behind. Then Matthew Bulbeck, making his return from a series of back problems, had John Crawley lbw playing no shot, and Andy Flintoff snapped up by Rob Turner in consecutive overs.

Somerset skipper Jamie Cox then turned to Michael Burns with immediate dividends as Warren Hegg was deceived by his first ball and lost his middle stump.

And when Burns took a brilliant catch to dismiss Neil Fairbrother and give Jones the first of his three wickets, Lancashire were in danger of an embarrassing collapse.

But Schofield and Chapple steadied the ship, with Schofield seizing only his second Championship appearance of the season to score an impressive 58-ball half-century with 10 fours.

The former England leg-spinner was furious himself when he was bowled for 58 as he was confused by a Keith Dutch full toss, and Jones then fired out Peter Martin and John Wood in consecutive overs to leave Lancashire on 195 for nine.

But Keedy, who had shared a last-wicket stand of 98 with Neil Fairbrother when these counties met at Taunton in April, frustrated Somerset again to undermine all their earlier good work - although Cox and Burns ended the day in more positive fashion with an unbroken second-wicket stand of 65.

Lancashire's joy was tempered with Crawley leaving the ground immediately after his dismissal because of a family bereavement, with Hegg taking over the captaincy.