Durham struggle as 22 wickets fall on first day

SOMERSET’S Craig Overton claimed six for 23 as 22 wickets fell on the opening day of the Rothesay County Championship Division One game against Durham at the Cooper Associates Ground, Taunton.

- By RICHARD LATHAM

Invited to bat first on a green pitch, the visitors subsided to 145 all out, with Overton twice on a hat-trick during ten probing overs from the Marcus Trescothick Pavilion End. Ben Raine top-scored with 42.

In reply, Somerset posted 250 all out, Tom Lammonby putting the pitch in perspective with an impressive 89 off 109 balls, including eight fours. Off-spinner George Drissell returned career-best figures of five for 59.

Durham then lost skipper Alex Lees and nightwatchman Callum Parkinson in the three remaining overs to close on five for two and trailed by 100 runs.

There was little sign of the carnage to come when Lees and Emilio Gay launched Durham's day with a stand of 26 in 5.5 overs before Gay edged a low catch to second slip to become Overton’s first victim.

The next ball saw Colin Ackerman taken at first slip by Tom Kohler-Cadmore and before they knew it the visitors were 33 for three, David Bedingham nicking a delivery from Gregory to wicketkeeper James Rew.