Somerset have a first championship in sight after beating Lancashire

Somerset have never been this close. Like Northamptonshire and Gloucestershire (though one or two in Bristol claim a 19th-century triumph) they have never won the Championship. They have only been second once – in 2001 – but even then they started their final match with no chance of winning. But after fast-moving days at Taunton and Trent Bridge Somerset have a damn good chance of claiming the pennant this season. They will start their match against Durham at Chester-le-Street on Monday (once they have completed their semi-final against Essex in the Clydesdale Bank 40 this weekend) two points behind the leaders, Nottinghamshire, five in front of Yorkshire, who for a brief moment this afternoon were the darlings of the West Country. Thus, after seeing off Lancashire, Somerset are on the threshold of their greatest season. Three decades ago the one-day titles rolled in when the gargantuan trio of Viv Richards, Ian Botham and Joel Garner were together but the best that side could manage in the Championship was third. Marcus Trescothick's team does not contain so many household names. Neither Charl Willoughby nor Alfonso Thomas can terrify like Garner; nor is Peter Trego quite the next Botham. But the 2010 team works its socks off day in day out; they have adventure, stamina and talent – and a big 10 days ahead of them. Today after the usual hilarities of a last-wicket partnership involving Willoughby (he withdraws, he swings, he hopes and sometimes he connects), Somerset established a first-innings lead of 123, with Murali Kartik hitting an invaluable half-century. It was anticipated that Kartik, a match-winner so often for Somerset this season, would be the key man for the home side with his left-arm spinners when Lancashire batted. Instead the seamers prevailed. The ball swung and the bounce was a little uneven. Willoughby's strength – leaving aside the entertainment value of his batting – is his ability to swing the ball late. Thomas, even though he appears to be half the size of Garner, swings the ball as well sometimes but he also zips it off the pitch at surprising pace. He gives the batsmen no peace. When he dismissed Shivnarine Chanderpaul he had taken his 100th wicket of the season in all cricket (46 of those have been in the Championship). Once Chanderpaul had gone Somerset knew they were on course. The little Guyanan had batted with his usual, self-effacing brilliance until he was lbw to a scuttler. The ball may have pitched outside leg-stump and it was just possible to detect from the West Indian's body language that he thought this was the case. But Steven Croft left us in no doubt what he thought when he was given out in Peter Trego's first, decisive over. Croft was given out caught in the gully off bat and pad. Upon sighting the umpire's raised finger Croft lashed at the turf with his boot with considerable venom and he dallied before departure. Had he been a speeding driver he would have been lucky to be invited on to a speed awareness course, such was the extremity of his reaction. The irrepressible Trego grabbed a second wicket in that over and despite the final two Lancashire wickets putting on 90, Somerset were on their way. Needing 48 to win they lost Marcus Trescothick, but the captain was all smiles at the end, while sticking to the thesis that "there's still a mountain to climb".