With a determined century and two wickets, Luke Wells provides Lancashire with a significant advantage as Somerset chases 393 runs. Somerset, having posted scores of 146 and 204 for 6 (with Vaughan scoring 68 and Wells taking 2 wickets for 23 runs), now needs 189 runs to defeat Lancashire, who scored 140 and 398 (Wells contributing 130 runs and Bohannon adding 60, while Leach claimed 3 wickets for 57 runs).
Needing 393 to keep their title ambitions alive in the Vitality County Championship, Somerset concluded the third day's play at Emirates Old Trafford on 204 for 6, remaining 189 runs adrift. A successful chase could reignite their battle with Surrey for the championship title in the final week of the season. However, a loss would confirm Lancashire's relegation to Division Two next season, particularly if Nottinghamshire secures ten points from their final match against Warwickshire, who would also require five points from that fixture.
In the previous day's play, Wells shone with a stellar 130 in Lancashire's second-innings total of 398, while Archie Vaughan's 68 provided Somerset with a glimmer of hope for what would be a historic fourth-innings chase against Lancashire. Those hopes were significantly dampened when George Balderson dismissed both Vaughan and Tom Kohler-Cadmore after tea. Although Kacey Aldridge and James Rew seemed poised to prevent further damage, Aldridge was caught by Matty Hurst off Wells' bowling for 19, just four balls before the close of play.
In a slightly extended morning session, Lancashire added exactly 100 runs while losing their last three wickets. Wells, together with George Balderson, were cautious early on, managing only 36 runs in the opening hour. Wells reached his second century of the season with a thick edge to third man after facing 196 balls, hitting 12 fours and one six, demonstrating the form that had eluded him for much of the season.
Wells and Balderson set a new eighth-wicket partnership record between Lancashire and Somerset, amassing 135 runs before Wells was dismissed leg before wicket trying to reverse-sweep Jack Leach for 130. Tom Bailey also fell to Leach for one, and the innings concluded with Balderson bowled by Brett Randell for 47. Leach ended with figures of 3 for 57, while Randell contributed 3 for 71.
Somerset's chase began disastrously, with Andy Umeed attempting an ambitious drive at Bailey's second ball, resulting in his off stump being uprooted. Despite this setback, Vaughan and Tom Lammonby forged a robust 105-run partnership for the second wicket, only ending when Lammonby was bowled for 49 after misjudging a full ball from Wells. Vaughan reached his first-class fifty from 84 balls; however, the session deteriorated when Tom Abell was leg before wicket to Anderson Phillip for just five runs.
As the evening session unfolded, Vaughan was dismissed for 68, caught by George Bell at slip, leaving Somerset at 146 for 4. The same combination sent Tom Kohler-Cadmore back to the pavilion after he scored 23. Yet, amidst gloomy conditions, Aldridge and Rew managed to withstand Lancashire's bowling until Wells produced the pivotal wicket. So far, Balderson has taken 2 for 33 from 14 overs.