Leach spins Somerset to victory in two days

JACK Leach returned figures of six for 63 as Somerset wrapped up a five-wicket Rothesay County Championship Division One win over Durham inside two days at the Cooper Associates Ground, Taunton.

- By RICHARD LATHAM, ECB REPORTERS NETWORK SUPPORTED BY ROTHESAY

From an overnight five for two in their second innings, trailing by 100 runs, the visitors were bowled out for 190, left-arm spinner Leach claiming his second six-for in successive Championship games and off-spinner Archie Vaughan taking four for 85. Emilio Gay top-scored with 42, while Ben Raine contributed 36.

That left Somerset needing just 86 to win, a target they achieved in 19.2 overs, not without alarm, at just before 4pm, Tom Banton ending unbeaten on 33 and Callum Parkinson taking four for 39. They took 20 points from the game to Durham's three.

Despite the turning pitch, Somerset elected to start the day with seam at both ends, skipper Lewis Gregory operating from the River End in tandem with Craig Overton.

Gay and Neil Wagner were rarely troubled and had added 26 to the overnight score by the time Vaughan was introduced from the Marcus Trescothick Pavilion End.

His first over went for 16, Gay striking four fours and clearly intent on carrying the game to Somerset's slow bowlers. Leach’s first over from the other end saw Wagner hit a six over long-off to bring up a half-century stand from just 57 balls.