Weather restricts bowlers' efforts

By Jon Steer
May 9 2005

For the first time this season the Durham players will have to use the fourth day of a championship match. With the game evenly poised Durham need two more Somerset wickets to set up their run chase. Day three was dominated by the weather which meant that only 30 overs were bowled.

Durham had the best of the time that was available, taking five Somerset wickets in the morning, with Harmison and Plunkett both striking early. Mark Davies then took two wickets in quick succession and Colly took the wicket of Johnson to leave Somerset on 173-8.

Ian Blackwell and Andy Caddick then set about frustrating the Durham bowlers with a stand that was to survive the rest of the day and quite a number of trips to the pavillion and back!

The umpires finally called a halt just after 6pm with the score on 219-8 a lead of 173.

With better weather forecast today, Durham will be keen to take the final two wickets quickly and then concentrate of winning the game. On a pitch whose bounce is becoming increasingly variable, this will be no easy task, especially if the target gets much abouve 200.