Leicestershire 390 for 7 (Swindells 119*, Ackermann 67, Barnes 54*) trail Somerset 461 for 9 declared by 71 runs
Harry Swindells hit a career-best 119 not out as Leicestershire frustrated a depleted Somerset bowling attack on the third day of the LV=County Championship match at Taunton.
Setting out on 95 for 3 in their first innings in reply to 461, the visitors posted 390 for 7, 22-year-old Swindells leading the way with his second first-class century. Skipper Colin Ackermann contributed 67, Ben Mike 40 and Ed Barnes a career-best 54 not out before bad light ended play 15 overs early.
The day began with news that Craig Overton, captaining Somerset in a Championship match for the first time, had been called into the revised England squad for the one-day series against Pakistan. His place in the game was taken by 20-year-old debutant Kasey Aldridge, a tall seamer and middle-order batter, while James Hildreth assumed the role of skipper.
Ackermann and Josh Inglis resumed their fourth-wicket stand at the start of play, taking it to 57 before Inglis, on 27, fell lbw when padding up to Jack Brooks with the total on 117.
With Josh Davey nursing a sore toe, Somerset were without two frontline seamers. Ackermann took advantage with a series of classy strokes as he and Swindells built confidently until rain brought an early lunch at 12.55pm.
The Leicestershire captain had faced 160 balls and hit 10 fours when de Lange bowled him between bat and pad soon after the 1.45pm resumption to make it 177 for 4.
Somerset took the second new ball with the total on 207, Aldridge and Brooks both beating the bat regularly without finding an edge. Swindells went to fifty off 120 balls, with seven fours, receiving good support from Mike in a stand of 79. Mike had hit seven boundaries when driving at de Lange and falling to a catch at first slip.
Callum Parkinson helped Swindells add a further 16 before being taken at third slip, fending at a steeply rising delivery from de Lange. By tea, Leicestershire had moved to 290 for 7, just 22 short of avoiding the follow-on.
Swindells' impressive knock continued with a cut four off Brooks to take his team past the follow-on figure and another boundary through the covers off de Lange to bring up his hundred off 186 balls, with 15 fours.
A Barnes boundary off the final ball of the 110th over took Leicestershire to 350 and a fourth batting point, while Somerset had to settle for two bowling points.
Barnes went to a maiden first-class half-century off 65 balls, his 11th four also bringing up a century stand with Swindells. By the time the light closed in, the pair had added 118 in positive fashion and the game looked destined for a draw.
"It was probably the best I have batted," Swindells said. "Even without Craig Overton, Somerset have a quality bowling attack and it was tough facing Jack Brooks and Marchant de Lange, who have so much experience.
"On another day I might have nicked some of the balls I missed, but I tried to ride the wave. The crowd were giving me a bit of stick at times, but that doesn't bother me."
