County Championship: Tom Abell & George Bartlett help Somerset bat Bears out of it at Edgbaston

Somerset skipper Tom Abell passed 50 for the seventh time this season - and the 43rd time in his career

Somerset batted all day for the loss of just two wickets at Edgbaston as they took total control of the Division One relegation battle with reigning county champions Warwickshire.

Having resumed on 13-2, the visitors closed day three on 277-4, 300 runs ahead, to virtually assure themselves of avoiding defeat.

Captain Tom Abell led the way with an obdurate 87 from 173 balls.

George Bartlett then finished the day on a season's best 91 not out.

Tom Lammonby and Abell added just 55 runs in 36 overs in the morning session against some fine bowling, particularly from main Bears paceman Oliver Hannon-Dalby.

Warwickshire's hopes of an early clatter of wickets for their two India internationals were thwarted by a pitch which blunted the pace of Mohammed Siraj and offered only very slow turn to Jayant Yadav.

At one stage, Hannon-Dalby and spinner Yadav shared six straight maidens, while Lammonby went 11 overs without scoring.

But, after helping to add 79 in 41 overs, Lammonby edged a lifter from Hannon-Dalby to Rob Yates at slip on 40.

Bartlett seamlessly settled in alongside his captain while Warwickshire skipper Will Rhodes shuffled a bowling attack that plugged away nobly to ensure that runs at least never came quickly.

The fourth-wicket stand was worth 72 in 25 overs when Abell's 246-minute vigil ended when Danny Briggs turned a beauty on to his off stump.

But again home hopes were in vain when Lewis Goldsworthy added his application to the collectively diligence.

After going off for bad light, then coming back on for three overs at the end, Bartlett and Goldsworthy have so far shared a century stand worth 121.

Warwickshire batsman Sam Hain:

"A lot of credit has to go to the bowlers. The pitch has changed a little bit from the first couple of days. It doesn't seem like there is a lot in it for the pace bowlers and I don't think it's turning as much as well.

"We'll see what happens overnight. We'll see if they declare or try and get a few more runs.

"But, either way it's time for our batting unit to step up and take it one session at a time and do the job. We've got to wake up with clear minds and clear heads and give it a good crack."

Somerset's George Bartlett:

"This was a massive day for the club and for the team. To get on top in the game is brilliant and for every batter to contribute was great.

"When the ball goes softer it gets a bit easier but Tom and Lammers put in a great shift at the top and that made it easier for everyone else.

"We put pressure on them and didn't allow them to build pressure on us. We just tried to get partnerships together because, on this wicket, potentially wickets could go quickly."

Report supplied by the ECB Reporters' Network.