James Hildreth continued his prolific start to the season as Somerset built a strong position on the third day of the LV=County Championship match with Middlesex at Taunton.

The 30-year-old former England Lions captain followed up his 187 in the first innings with 86 to help the hosts to 310 all out and a lead of 401. Marcus Trescothick contributed 76 and Tom Cooper 42, while Ollie Rayner, James Harris and Steve Finn claimed three wickets each

Middlesex had faced a deficit of 91 when bowled out for 317 at the start of the day, Lewis Gregory celebrating his call-up to the England One-Day International squad by completing figures of six for 101. Tim Murtagh was unable to bat because of a side injury sustained in the warm-up, which also prevented him bowling.

By the close the visitors had reached 31 without loss in their second innings and required a further 371 to win going into the final day.

The morning session saw Middlesex add only 11 to their overnight 306 for seven. Gregory, told the previous evening of his place in the England squad to face Ireland on May 8, sent back James Franklin (46) and Finn, both lbw, to add to his four second day victims.

Murtagh’s absence was felt even more by Middlesex when they took the field a bowler light. Trescothick was soon showing the form that had brought him a first innings century, despite the early loss of opening partner Tom Abell.

The Somerset captain shared an attractive stand of 82 with Cooper either side of lunch, ended when the Australian was bowled attempting to reverse sweep Rayner.

Trescothick had hit 11 fours and 2 sixes when bowled by a ball from Rayner that appeared to turn and knocked back his off stump with the total on 159.

Hildreth was forced to rein himself back as Jim Allenby (28) and Alex Barrow fell before tea, which was taken at 211 for five and Somerset leading by 302.

But after reaching a patient half-century off 109 balls, with 5 fours, Hildreth played with increasing freedom as the hosts looked to make Middlesex bat before the close.

After Peter Trego (25) and Gregory had fallen to Finn and Rayner respectively and Tim Groenewald had been run out responding to call for a quick single, Hildreth perished in the bid for quick runs, caught on the deep mid-wicket boundary. He had hit 9 fours and a six in facing 153 balls.

That was 304 for nine. Jamie Overton came in to pull Finn’s first delivery with the second new ball for six and was bowled by the next one with the lead just past the 400-mark.

Overton had bowled only seven balls in the Middlesex second innings before limping off. Somerset will be hoping he makes a swift recovery overnight.

Rayner, who claimed three wickets in the Somerset second innings, said: "We still feel well in the game. This is a fast scoring ground and James Hildreth has proved for Somerset that if a batsman gets in it is possible for him to make big runs.

"A lot could depend on the weather tomorrow. I managed to turn some balls to a left-hander in Marcus Trescothick and it will be interesting to see what Abdur Rehman gets from the pitch, but even if we get tied down for a period there will be time to get the required runs."