A marathon batting exhibition from Somerset at Scarborough yesterday left Yorkshire with a lot of hard work to do over the next couple of days if they are to avoid their sixth Championship defeat of the season.

Somerset occupied the crease for 165.1 overs before declaring at 498 for nine and in 18 overs to the close Yorkshire replied with 46 for one which left them requiring a further 303 to avoid the possibility of the follow-on.

It was the longest innings against Yorkshire in county cricket since Middlesex used up 169.3 overs in compiling 448 at Lord's in 1998.

Somerset began the second day on 299 for five in 100 overs with Yorkshire choosing to take the new ball and in the second over Ryan Sidebottom had Ian Blackwell caught behind for 44 after the sturdy left-hander had already hit a couple of boundaries.

Sidebottom and Chris Silverwood both hit on a nagging length but after 40 minutes a flash of lightning was followed by rain and when play resumed after an early lunch with 21 overs lost, Yorkshire seemed to lose some of their enthusiasm as Somerset ruthlessly ground down their attack.

Rob Turner and Keith Dutch patiently built up their seventh wicket stand against uninspired bowling and even though Dutch twice in one over drove fours over mid-on at Richard Dawson's expense Somerset were only 359 for six at the 130-overs stage.

Dutch's rather slow progress was still faster than that of the stubborn Turner who was out to the second ball after tea when bowled round his legs by Sidebottom for 63 from 175 deliveries with five boundaries.

At 453 for eight, Somerset began to move along more smartly.before Rose came down the track to Dawson and was stumped for 24, the dismissal prompting the declaration. Somerset's Bulbeck separated the openers at 39 with a full ball which pinned Matthew Wood lbw.

Craig White looked secure in batting out the remainder of the day for 15 but Yorkshire are certain of a tough task today.