Warwickshire 324 (Patel 98, Evans 73, Leach 7-106) and 20 for 0 require a further 205 runs to beat Somerset 438 (Hildreth 118, Barker 4-94) and 110 (Patel 7-38)
Scorecard
Jeetan Patel bowled Warwickshire back into contention on the third day of the LV=County Championship match with Somerset at Taunton.
The experienced off-spinner claimed 7 for 38 from 14 overs on a dry pitch offering increasing turn as the hosts crashed to 110 all out in their second innings, Keith Barker finishing with 3 for 37.
That was after Somerset had gained a first innings lead of 114 by bowling out their opponents for 324, a fine recovery from 120 for 7, left-arm spinner Jack Leach returning career-best figures of 7 for 106 - a performance that on the second day had secured their First Division future.
After seeing Jack Leach do so well for Somerset it was good for me to get some turn and take wickets," Patel said. "We still have a lot of work to do to win the game because 200 more will take some getting on that pitch. Hopefully we can be proactive from the start tomorrow and finish the season with a win."
Patel fell two short of a century after he and Laurie Evans had batted through the morning session, extending their stand to 166, a Warwickshire record for the eighth wicket against Somerset.
Set 225 to win, Warwickshire had 11 overs to face before the close and progressed to 20 for no wicket with few alarms.
The day began with the visitors on 180 for 7 in reply to 438 and looking at the prospect of following on, despite Patel and Evans having added 60 the previous evening.
Patel appeared to survive an early chance to wicketkeeper Luke Ronchi off Leach on 42 and went on to reach his half-century off 86 balls with his third six, lofted over mid-wicket to dent the spinner's figures.
Evans had been more watchful and moved to his own half-century off 135 deliveries, with 10 fours, as Warwickshire progressed to 280 for 7 by lunch, exactly 100 having been added in the session.
The partnership was finally broken with the score on 286 when Evans was bowled by a turning delivery from Leach, who nine runs later accounted for Patel, stumped advancing down the pitch for the boundary that would have taken him to a century.
Jim Allenby wrapped up the innings by dismissing Oliver Hannon-Dalby lbw for seven and, despite the efforts of Patel and Evans, Somerset looked in a strong position.
It was soon eroded as first Barker got to work from the Somerset Pavilion End, removing Marcus Trescothick, Tom Abell and James Hildreth with a fine new ball spell.
Soon Patel was building on it from the River End, which had seen Leach take his wickets. He had Allenby pouched at short-leg and pinned Peter Trego lbw as Somerset slumped to 36 for 5 at tea.
The procession continued after the interval as Ronchi fell lbw to Patel, who then removed Lewis Gregory and Tom Cooper, both playing attacking shots not suited to their team's situation.
It was 83 for 9 when Jamie Overton perished trying to hit a second six over mid-wicket. Leach and Alfonso Thomas, playing his last innings for Somerset, added 27 precious runs before the former became Patel's seventh victim, caught at slip.
"It was emotional for me walking out to bat in both innings on my last appearance for the club because I have has eight great years here," Thomas said. "There have been a lot of highlights. Taking four wickets in four balls in a Championship match was great for me personally, but there have been so many memorable times for the team while I have been here and a lot of great one-day occasions at Taunton."
