James Hildreth and Nick Compton batted Somerset back into the game on a compelling second day of their LV= County Championship clash with Derbyshire at Taunton.
The duo shared a 116-run stand that helped their side to 231 for four at stumps, a lead of 36 against their relegation rivals in their second innings.
Hildreth eventually fell for 81 but Compton remains unbeaten on 64 and will look to continue where he left off in the morning as Somerset search for a vital victory.
Derbyshire had secured a first-innings advantage of 195 by extending their total from an overnight 220 for seven to 298 all out, with Richard Johnson making 68 and last pair Tim Groenewald and Mark Footitt hitting a valuable 42.
Piyush Chawla added one wicket to his four first-day victims to secure his first five-wicket haul as Somerset’s overseas player.
The hosts faced a difficult task to get themselves back in the contest but skipper Marcus Trescothick led from the front, hitting 10 fours in his 57.
Compton, who had dropped to number three after receiving treatment for a stiff neck, arrived at the crease when Chris Jones was caught at mid-on for 11 with the total on 40.
After the departure of Trescothick to Wayne Madsen, which made it 90 for two, Hildreth joined Compton in the middle and, having initially looked trouble, gained in confidence by pulling David Wainwright for six.
He reached a fifty off 80 balls and began to look a real threat to Derbyshire, while Compton followed him to a half-century off 103 deliveries.
The pair were eventually parted when Hildreth was bowled by Wainwright, but Somerset seemed set to get through to the end of the day without further loss when part-time leg-spinner Shivnarine Chanderpaul stepped up to bowl the day’s last over.
But Craig Kieswetter was bowled when attempting to cut, leaving Somerset with six wickets in hand with which to build a defendable total.
Much will depend on Compton, who will return refreshed having battled away for three hours and 23 minutes on day two.
Derbyshire will also have to face the threat of Chawla when batting last on a wicket that has assisted seam and spin from the outset.