MARCUS Trescothick hit his third County Championship century of the season to keep Somerset in the game on the second day against Yorkshire at Taunton.

After the visitors had been bowled out for 438, with David Stiff returning four for 92, Trescothick established himself as the leading run-maker in the Championship by scoring 146 off 223 balls, with a six and 24 fours.

He shared stands of 80 in 10 overs with James Hildreth (51), 71 with Zander de Bruyn (31) and 62 with Craig Kieswetter (28) to help Somerset to 326 for nine at the close, still 112 behind.

It was another dominant performance by the former England opener, who has made at least a half-century in all seven of Somerset's Championship games this summer.

After an array of sweetly-timed strokes, he finally fell in the closing overs to a tired shot, offering a return catch to young seamer James Lee, having batted for eight minutes short of five hours in sweltering heat.

Yorkshire had begun the day on 375 for seven and Matthew Hoggard contributed 26 before Stiff wrapped up the tail with all three wickets. The big pace bowler had recovered well from a wild spell the previous afternoon.

Ajmal Shahzad was left unbeaten on 27 and was soon looking the pick of the Yorkshire attack as he accounted for Hildreth and Kieswetter when both appeared well set.

First Hoggard played his part by having Arul Suppiah caught at second slip for 17 on the stroke of lunch. Then Steve Patterson sent back Justin Langer for four, pinning the Somerset captain lbw with the total 64 for two.

Hildreth looked in prime form, striking 11 fours in his 38-ball innings, before undoing all the good work with an awful shot. Having just nicked Shahzad wide of first slip to bring up his half-century, he had a wild swing at the next delivery and was bowled middle stump.

From 144 for three, Trescothick and de Bruyn played sensibly and looked set to bat through to tea. But just before the interval the South African inexplicably mistimed a cover drive off Lee and spooned a simple catch to Andrew Gale.

It was 215 for four at tea, Trescothick reaching his hundred off 123 balls, with 19 fours and a six. Somerset were 223 behind with the game in the balance.

Shahzad tilted it back Yorkshire's way by penetrating Kieswetter's defence and bowling him with the total on 277. Ten runs later Hoggard sent back Peter Trego lbw for seven and the visitors were definitely in the ascendancy.

Hoggard drove it home by having Alfonso Thomas caught down the leg side by wicketkeeper Jon Bairstow for 13 and bowling Andy Caddick for a single to end the day with four for 82 from 19 overs.

Trescothick said afterwards: "Today was the day when the big score came through for me.

"I have had a couple of hundreds but got out straight afterwards but today was the day I went on to get a big score and it was good time to make the most of it.

"They have bowled us out so there is no reason why we can't do the same to them.

"The game is a bit more open now which is a bit more interesting and there are still two good days to come."