LUKE Wood and the lower order kept Worcestershire hanging on as Somerset gained the upper hand on day two of the Specsavers County Championship match.

Somerset’s pacy Jamie Overton picked up his first Division One wickets of 2018 on his way to 4-61 from 15 overs.

Josh Davey claimed 4-68 as the Blackfinch New Road hosts were dismissed for 257 in their first innings for a deficit of 80.

Somerset openers Marcus Trescothick and Ed Byrom then extended their overall advantage to 127 by the close in reaching 47-0.

Their position would be even stronger but for Wood who is on loan for a month from Nottinghamshire.

The paceman came to the wicket at 120-7 and featured in crucial partnerships of 46 with Ross Whiteley (26) and 84 with Dillon Pennington (37).

Wood ended on 65 not out from 77 balls and struck 10 boundaries.

His efforts enabled the home side to avoid the possibility of being asked to follow on and secured two batting points.

But Worcestershire will need a major turnaround if they are to stave off the threat of a fifth defeat in eight Championship matches.

As well as Somerset bowled, some of the County’s front-line batsmen will be disappointed at the manner of their dismissals.

Somerset resumed on 324-9 and added 13 more runs before Jack Leach edged Ed Barnard to first slip.

The County quickly ran into trouble in their reply with the quickfire dismissal of openers Travis Head and Daryl Mitchell.

Head (2) pushed forward to Davey and edged to Craig Overton at third slip while Mitchell (5) flicked at a Craig Overton delivery and was caught down the leg side by Steven Davies.

Joe Clarke (16) struck four boundaries but surrendered his wicket in a tame manner when he clipped Davey straight to mid-wicket.

Moeen Ali’s innings was a mixture of class shots and being given a searching examination by Jamie Overton.

After making 30 he drove loosely at the paceman and nicked through to former County wicketkeeper Davies.

Skipper Brett D’Oliveira (22) was trapped lbw by the same bowler in the last over before lunch.

Worcestershire continued to lose regular wickets with Barnard (29), who had been promoted to number six, and debutant Alex Milton (8) both ousted on 120 in successive overs by Davey and Craig Overton respectively.

Wood and Whiteley played with freedom in putting on 46 in six overs before the latter was bowled by the returning Jamie Overton.

But his dismissal brought in Pennington, playing only his second Championship match, who showed his mettle and willingness for a fight in adversity alongside Wood.

The innings finally ended when Pennington was bowled by Jamie Overton and then Steve Magoffin (1) popped a Davey delivery up on the on-side.