Essex 158 and 314 for 3 (Allison 105*, Critchley 76*, Elgar 56) lead Somerset 469 by 3 runs

Charlie Allison hit a defiant century to lead a determined Essex fightback on the third day of the Rothesay County Championship Division One match with Somerset at the Cooper Associates Ground, Taunton.

The 21-year-old's unbeaten 105, off 219 balls, with 13 fours and two sixes helped the visitors progress from an overnight 59 without loss in their second innings to 314 for 3, a slender lead of three runs. Matt Critchley contributed 76 to an unbroken fourth-wicket stand of 187, while Dean Elgar made 56 on a day of massive frustration for the Somerset bowlers.

They toiled away for precious little reward and now face a tough final day to secure a win that would significantly boost hopes of a first-ever title as the wide-open Championship race builds towards a potentially thrilling finale.

Play began under cloudless skies with Somerset being led by James Rew in the absence of Lewis Gregory, who suffered a badly bruised hip while fielding on day two. Edgar and Paul Walter looked relatively untroubled in extending their overnight stand, the latter hitting offspinner Archie Vaughan for six over wide long-on as the partnership progressed to 82 before Somerset made a breakthrough.

Walter, on 43, was bowled through the gate driving at a good length ball from Jake Ball, reward for the bowlers maintaining a tight line and keeping a check on the run-rate.

Edgar went to a 91-ball fifty, with eight fours, against one of his former clubs. But, having added six to his score, the left-hander edged a defensive push off fellow South African Migael Pretorius through to wicketkeeper Rew.

It was 127 for 2 and without a run added Essex skipper Tom Westley fell to a soft dismissal, driving Jack Leach in the air to cover where Tom Abell took a comfortable catch. Suddenly it was Somerset's morning and at lunch their opponents were 135 for 3, still 176 runs away from avoiding an innings defeat.

The afternoon session belonged entirely to the visitors as Allison and Critchley batted with increasing solidity on a pitch offering little in terms of spin or seam movement. While Somerset created a few half-chances, they came to nothing.

Allison emerged from a cautious start to play with increasing freedom as the Essex pair brought up a half-century stand in 129 balls. Critchley had looked in prime form in the first innings and again encountered few problems.

A six over long-on off Leach signalled Allison's increasing confidence and he moved to an impressive fifty off 88 balls, with eight fours. The partnership extended to the century mark from 225 deliveries before tea was taken at 232 for 3, with Allison unbeaten on 60 and Critchley 39 not out.

The second new ball had just been taken and Pretorius used it to some effect after the interval, going past the bat on numerous occasions. But there was little threat from the other end as Gregory, back on the field after missing the first two sessions, shuffled his attack in an increasingly desperate effort to claim a wicket.

It was an all too familiar tale for the hosts as the pitch flattened out on a third day and proved increasingly unresponsive. Allison survived a few injudicious shots as he approached three figures to go to an immensely valuable fourth first class hundred off 185 balls with a single off Leach.

Critchley was content to play a supporting role. His second fifty of the match had occupied 170 deliveries and featured very few errors.

He made one with his score advanced to 60, but after edging a turning delivery from Leach saw Gregory spill the most straightforward of chances at first slip. It was all the luck the Essex pair needed and a Critchley boundary in the final over took them into the lead.