Yorkshire believe a lack of luck is the only thing that stands between them and a winning position at the halfway stage of their LV= County Championship match against Somerset at Headingley.

After the hosts declared their first innings on 505-9 in the latter stages of the second afternoon session, the scoreboard suggests Somerset responded steadily with 92-1 from 43 overs.

But Yorkshire bowled superbly and they will bowl a lot worse at other stages this season for far more reward.

Marcus Trescothick and Nick Compton, who notched 53 and 33 not out respectively, survived a handful of close calls for the majority of their time at the crease to leave the hosts with an uphill battle to clinch a third straight win.

Rich Pyrah only conceded six runs in the first eight overs of his Championship season and was convinced he had Compton caught behind down the leg side.

The all-rounder had scored an aggressive 55 off 54 balls earlier in the day, partnering Adil Rashid on the way to his career-best 180.

Pyrah said: “I don’t think we’ve bowled as well as that for a long time as a group of bowlers. They could have been 90-6 quite easily.”

Jack Brooks did at least manage to trap Trescothick lbw the ball after he reached 50 late on.

Day two was another memorable one for Rashid, whose 317-ball 180 also saw him tot up 4,000 first-class runs having started the day on 120.

His departure, caught behind off Peter Trego, signalled the declaration after he was involved in half-century stands with Andrew Hodd, Pyrah and Brooks (33).

Pyrah hit four fours in an over off left-arm spinner Jack Leach just after lunch but Yorkshire fell five runs short of claiming a fifth batting point for reaching 400 inside 110 overs.