Points – Somerset 20, Durham 3.
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A depleted Durham side suffered a first defeat of the season as Marcus Trescothick led his Somerset side to a comfortable seven wicket win.
Trescothick struck an imperious 133 from only 129 balls, after much of the morning and all of the afternoon session had been wiped out by rain.
Injuries to Scott Borthwick, Mark Wood, Jamie Harrison deprived the visitors of three front line bowlers, and when the rain finally subsided Somerset quickly knocked off the runs required to seal their victory.
After four successive draws, this was a first defeat of the season and it leaves Durham seventh in the LV=County Championship table.
Somerset’s openers resumed in the morning needing just 136 runs to win, but there was a threat of showers from the outset. Dark clouds loomed overhead and Trescothick and Myburgh batted with understandable intent.
Former Durham man Myburgh, in the quest for quick runs, was run out shortly after passing his half-century. Chris Rushworth then bowled Nick Compton, only to discover that he had overstepped with his front foot and the umpire had signalled for a no ball.
With 80 needed to win, the clouds finally burst and the rain poured down. Hail stones fell on the outfield as the ground staff scrambled to retrieve the covers, with the ground becoming saturated.
Large puddles on the outfield suggested that prospects of any further play were receding, but after taking an early tea, the players came back on to the field at 3.45pm.
Upon the re-start, Trescothick was dropped by Paul Collingwood at slip, denying Ryan Pringle a first Championship wicket. The off-spinner shrugged off that disappointment quickly though as he trapped Nick Compton LBW with the very next delivery.
Victory was in sight for the hosts, but their skipper couldn’t quite see his side through to the end as he holed out to long off, giving Pringle (2-94) a second wicket.
Alviro Petersen and James Hildreth knocked off the remaining 34 runs, with the match sealed by a big six into the stand.
Durham will hope that the three injuries suffered in this game will heal before the next match at Nottinghamshire, which starts on Sunday.
STUMPS, DAY 3. Somerset 234 (Wood 5-37) & 112-0 (Trescothick 58*, Myburgh 48*) v Durham 155 & 326 (Richardson 116, Stoneman 97) at Taunton. Somerset require 136 runs to win with 10 second innings wickets remaining.
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Points – Somerset 4, Durham 3.
Michael Richardson hit a second century of the season, but a late surge from Somerset captain Marcus Trescothick ensured his side are now strong favourites to win.
With the forecast for tomorrow showing regular showers, all three results are still possible in the West Country. However, the home team only require a further 136 to win on a wicket that has lost some of it’s zip.
Although the ball is starting to turn, Durham are without the injured Scott Borthwick, so a lot of responsibility rests with debutant Ryan Pringle.
The star performer for the visitors on day three was undoubtably Richardson, who batted patiently to give his side a second innings platform.
The in-form South African has now scored 486 Championship runs this season, and he put on a record 161 for the second wicket with Mark Stoneman (97).
Craig Overton (5-63) led the fightback for the hosts, with the wickets of Mark Wood and Jamie Harrison falling in successive balls, but Chris Rushworth smashed a career best 46 to give his side a late boost.
Scott Borthwick, nursing a small flake fracture and a large laceration to his finger tip, bravely batted at number 11 and survived 14 deliveries to remain unbeaten at the end of the innings.
In response, Marcus Trescothick scored quickly and the Durham attack had no answer to the former England opener. Johann Myburgh proved an able deputy at the other end, as the pair struck 18 boundaries in 23 overs.
Unless the weather intervenes, Durham’s unbeaten start to the season looks in serious jeopardy.
STUMPS, DAY 2. Somerset 234 (Petersen 78, Wood 5-37) v Durham 155 and 121-1 (Stoneman 60*, Richardson 57*) at Taunton. Durham lead by 42 runs with 9 second innings wickets remaining.
Points – Somerset 4, Durham 3.
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Durham enjoyed a fruitful second day at Taunton, as Mark Wood helped the visitors establish a second innings lead.
Wood (5-37) picked up a fourth five wicket haul in only his 17th first class appearance to continue an impressive start to his Durham career.
Somerset secured a first innings advantage of 79 and took the early wicket of Keaton Jennings, but Mark Stoneman (60) and Michael Richardson (57) fought back hard.
With two days to go, a positive result seems likely in this match as long as conditions continue to suit the bowlers. Both sides were unbeaten going into this game, but that statistic could change after another eventful day at Taunton.
The hosts started the morning badly, as former Durham man Johann Myburgh was caught at slip by Paul Collingwood.
Alviro Petersen (78) and James Hildreth (43) steadied the ship and threatened to take the game away from Collingwood’s side until three quick wickets tumbled after lunch. Somerset slipped from 132-3 to 138-6 as Chris Rushworth (4-70) and Wood combined to rip out the home team’s middle order.
Craig Overton (45*) struck some lusty blows, but Wood was bowling plenty of short deliveries at the tail enders and had fielders posted at short leg, leg gully and short mid-wicket to increase the pressure.
It proved to be too much for George Dockrell, who fended off a short ball and popped up a catch to Muchall in the gully.
Wood then ripped Jamie Overton’s middle stump out of the ground to emphatically end the Somerset innings.
Durham lost an early wicket in reply as Jennings pulled a delivery from Alfonso Thomas straight to Dockrell. Stoneman very nearly followed him shortly after but he was dropped at mid-on.
Stoneman survived another dropped catch but was unbeaten at the close, with Michael Richardson adding a half-century to his excellent start to the season.
Richardson had moved up a place in the batting order due to an injury sustained by Scott Borthwick.
The Sunderland-born left hander took a blow to his finger during Somerset’s innings and will be re-assessed in the morning. Borthwick briefly left the ground to be examined at a nearby hospital.
STUMPS, DAY 1. Somerset 51-2 (Myburgh 28*, Petersen 8*) v Durham 155 all out (Borthwick 59) at Taunton. Somerset trail by 104 runs with 8 first innings wickets remaining.
Points – Somerset 3, Durham 0.
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12 wickets fell on a remarkable day as the bowlers had an unusually profitable time at Taunton.
With the sun shining and the track looking dry, Paul Collingwood won the toss and was pleased to have the opportunity to bat first.
However, clouds then started to form overhead and they aided the swing bowling of Alfonso Thomas (5-41) and Peter Trego (2-35). Mark Stoneman, Keaton Jennings, Michael Richardson and Phil Mustard all failed to reach double figures, and when the latter was dismissed first ball, Durham were in dire trouble at 24-4.
Scott Borthwick and Collingwood ensured no further damage was suffered before lunch and were edging towards 100 before the captain was bowled by Thomas for 32. Borthwick brought up a dogged half-century but departed shortly after as Thomas claimed a fourth victim.
Handed his first Championship start of the season, Gordon Muchall was joined by first class debutant Ryan Pringle as Somerset turned to spin to try and take the final four wickets. Young Irishman George Dockrell accounted for Pringle (7), who chipped the ball into the covers, and Thomas then trapped Mark Wood LBW.
The Taunton crowd were stunned as wickets continued to tumble, as Muchall (30) edged Dockrell to slip and Chris Rushworth couldn’t celebrate his new contract with any runs as Craig Overton had the 27 year old caught behind.
An immediate riposte was needed and Rushworth duly obliged. With the first ball of the innings, the seamer found the edge of Trescothick’s bat and Muchall snaffled the catch.
When these two sides met less than a month ago, Nick Compton scored an excellent century but he was unable to repeat those heroics as Wood replaced Rushworth and immediately had the England International caught behind.
A sharp burst of rain brought an early tea interval and only 2.1 overs were possible after the break as the unsettled weather continued. Rain and bad light prevented any further drama on an astonishing day in the West Country.