Somerset duo force Durham to toil
Last updated on .From the section Cricket
| LV County Championship Division One, Emirates Durham ICG |
| Close or play, day one: Somerset 383-4 v Durham |
| Durham 1pt, Somerset 4pts |
| Match scorecard |
| Live commentary |
Marcus Trescothick and Nick Compton hit hundreds as Somerset dominated Durham on day one at Chester-le-Street.
The pair added 249 for the second wicket after Arul Suppiah fell to Callum Thorp for a duck.
Trescothick was eventually caught by Ruel Brathwaite off the leg-spin of Scott Borthwick for 144.
But Compton remained unbeaten on 149, sharing a stand of 87 with James Hildreth (54) to take Somerset to 383-4 at the close.
The visitors took advantage of an easy-paced pitch and made Durham captain Phil Mustard rue his decision to field after winning the toss.
Mustard may have felt vindicated when Suppiah edged Thorp to third slip, but his side had to wait 60 overs for their next wicket.
Former England opener Trescothick drove effortlessly through extra cover, pounced on every opportunity to cut or pull and dished out some particularly harsh treatment to seamer Brathwaite, who has kept Stephen Harmison out of the Durham side.
After reaching three figures he advanced to hit left-arm spinner Ian Blackwell for six over mid-wicket, but fell when looking to do the same to Borthwick.
There was little respite for Durham as Hildreth raced to a 49-ball half-century before being caught behind off Graham Onions (2-71) in the first over with the second new ball.
Onions also had Alex Barrow, playing after Craig Kieswetter was ruled out with a thigh injury, taken at first slip, but Compton, accompanied to the close by Jos Buttler, was unmoved.
CLOSE OF PLAY SUMMARY
BBC Newcastle's Martin Emmerson:
"This looks like it was a bad toss to win for Durham. Although they got Arul Suppiah out for a duck in the second over they seemed powerless to stop Somerset piling on the runs after that.
"Marcus Trescothick admits he thought he was on for his second double hundred of the season but uncharacteristically top edged a simple chance to Ruel Brathwaite at point when he was on 144. The chance took so long to come Brathwaite almost misjudged it.
"The partnership of 249 from Trescothick and Nick Compton for Somerset's second wicket was a record for any partnership by them against their hosts. Durham now have to try and get Compton out. His 149 was flawless but the tail could yet be the weak point for his side.
"Durham captain Phil Mustard said he thought the wicket would do a bit. For his part, Trescothick says he wasn't sure what to do if he won the toss either, so he's lucky he did not have to make that call."
