Nottinghamshire captain Chris Read did his best to spoil Andy Caddick's retirement party with a battling innings of 98 on the third day at Taunton.

Caddick claimed three for 96 before announcing he would be bringing down the curtain on his illustrious career at the end of the season.

But Read and Mark Ealham (64 not out) frustrated Somerset's push for victory, ensuring that Nottinghamshire avoided the follow-on with an eighth-wicket stand of 116.

The visitors were eventually bowled out for 356, loan recruit Scott Newman extending his overnight score of 46 to 87, and Charl Willoughby claiming four for 71.

That gave Somerset a first innings lead of just 45 after their opponents looked in deep trouble at 222 for seven. By the time bad light brought a premature close the home side had increased their advantage to 74 by making 29 without loss, but the game looks doomed to end in a draw.

The key moment of the day came when Marcus Trescothick spilled a chance at slip offered by Read on 41. The seventh Notts wicket had just fallen and they would have been 222 for eight, still 30 runs from saving the follow-on.

Read went on to face 123 balls, hitting 20 fours, before being well caught by Max Waller at short cover off Willoughby just two short of a century.

Nottinghamshire had begun the day on 77 for three and were soon 97 for four as night-watchman Ryan Sidebottom fell lbw on the back-foot to Willoughby.

But Newman continued to look in good form and hit 13 fours before Arul Suppiah's left-arm spin trapped him leg-before with the score on 147.

Without further addition Samit Patel was strangled down the leg-side by Caddick, thinly glancing a catch to wicketkeeper Craig Kieswetter.

Ali Brown was unusually restrained in making 28 off 60 balls before being caught behind after lunch looking to cut young leg-spinner Waller.

The morning session had seen a short interruption for a shower and there was a longer one after Read had reached his fifty off 71 deliveries.

Ealham proved a reliable partner, hitting 11 fours and a six off Caddick in his 71-ball innings as the follow-on figure was passed. The score was 338 when Read departed and, although Alfonso Thomas and Willoughby quickly claimed the two remaining wickets, Somerset's winning chance looked to have gone.

They had wasted the second new ball, Caddick's first over with it going for 19.