WORCESTERSHIRE'S Ed Barnard continues to shine but his team again face chasing a demanding target to avoid a second County Championship Division One defeat of the season.

A century for Somerset’s James Hildreth alongside a maiden 50 and career-best bowling performance from Barnard were the highlights of a second day reduced to 76 overs by rain at Taunton.

The hosts lead by 278 runs with one wicket remaining but Worcestershire bowling coach Alan Richardson says his team can still claim their first victory of the campaign.

He said: "We are still hanging on in there and believe we have a chance of winning.

"It has been a bit of a frustrating day for us. The guys stuck at the task really well and created a lot of opportunities.

"However, they are frustrated that they haven’t been able to turn that into it being a bit better position than it is at the moment.

"In our previous game we had opportunities and didn’t quite take them and there has been a real ebb and flow.

"It is pleasing that we are creating those opportunities with the ball and have given ourselves a chance but it's about having the belief that we can continue to do that."

Morning rain prevented play getting under way until 1.10pm when Worcestershire, who resumed on 153-8, lost their two remaining wickets for the addition of 26 runs.

The highlight of their 179 all out was Barnard’s first half-century which came off 64 balls with nine fours.

Lewis Gregory was the pick of the home bowlers with 4-51 from his 10 overs.

Batting for a second time with a lead of 23 runs, Somerset lost Eddie Byrom to the fifth ball of the innings and Matt Rental for seven with the total on 11.

Marcus Trescothick and Hildreth then rescued the situation and added 64 between them before the opener was out for 43.

By the time that tea was taken Somerset had moved onto 107-3 with Hildreth unbeaten on 36 and Abell on 16 not out.

Hildreth looked in fine form and went to his half-century with a boundary to fine leg as his runs came off 85 balls with eight fours.

At the other end the Somerset skipper was going well but after moving onto 27 he was out caught at first slip by George Rhodes off Barnard, his fifth-wicket partnership with Hildreth adding 70 runs.

Former Worcestershire player Steve Davies had moved onto five when he became another victim of Barnard’s and in the same over the bowler struck again this time removing Gregory caught at cover which made Somerset 153-6.

Craig Overton hit some lusty blows including a big six off Leach to see up the 200 before he was bowled by Steve Magoffin for 22.

Hildreth continued to take his runs and despite seeing Josh Davey and Jack Leach depart, the latter of which provided Barnard with his 10th wicket of the match, remained at the wicket.

In the last over of the day he went to a deserved 100 with a boundary off Josh Tongue, his runs off 153 balls with 15 fours.

When the players eventually left the field for bad light Somerset had moved onto 255-9, Hildreth not out 111, while Barnard ended the day with 5-37 off 19 overs.