Tom Banton and Tom Abell rescued Somerset from potential embarrassment on the second day of their County Championship Division One match with Warwickshire at Taunton.
The pair came together with the home side 57-3 in their first innings – trailing by 355 runs – and produced a patient stand of 139.
Banton made 78 and Abell an unbeaten 61 before three late wickets saw Somerset stumble to stumps on 208-6, with Oliver Hannon-Dalby claiming 4-45.
Earlier, Warwickshire had extended their score from an overnight 373-8 to 412 all out, Michael Burgess falling for 147.
Migael Pretorius added the wicket of Michael Booth to his four first-day victims for figures of 5-104.
Only one over was bowled at the start of play before a heavy shower and an early lunch was taken.
Somerset’s frustrations of the previous evening continued and an edged four by Booth off Pretorius took the visitors to a fourth batting point at 402-8.
Booth then took two to third man to bring up a half-century stand with Burgess before Pretorius parted them, the former (31) edging to Abell at first slip.
Burgess had faced 208 balls – hitting 17 fours and three maximums – before he skied a catch to Jack Leach at mid-on.
Needing 263 to avoid the prospect of a follow on, Somerset might have been on cautiously negotiating the new ball.
Instead, Andy Umeed smacked the second delivery of the second over back over Hannon-Dalby’s head for six and then fell to the fourth as he edged a low catch to Jacob Bethell at fourth slip.
Tom Kohler-Cadmore had moved to 22 off 35 balls when caught behind, while at
the other end, Chris Woakes completed a seven-over opening spell costing just 15 runs.
When Tom Lammonby (23) edged another catch to wicketkeeper Burgess, Somerset were under pressure, but Banton clubbed Booth over a short extra cover boundary for six as he and Abell saw them to 80-3 at tea.
An extended final session of 43 overs began with Banton bringing up the fifty partnership and he reached a 77-ball half-century, having hit five fours and a six.
Abell survived a scare on 43 when a delivery from Barnard appeared to narrowly miss his off stump before a late cut off Barnard for his third four took Abell to 50 off 110 balls.
Hannon-Dalby found the outside edge of Banton’s bat for the only slip Rob Yates to pouch a low chance with five overs remaining in the day.
The crestfallen Somerset player dragged himself off – having faced 143 balls – knowing a great chance of a third first-class century had escaped him.
Hannon-Dalby then struck two more quick blows to remove nightwatchmen Josh Davey lbw and Leach caught behind next ball, as Warwickshire ended the day on an unexpected high.
