Both sides began day four with a chance of victory, but it was Durham that came out on top in this seasons opening encounter at Emirates Durham ICG after a memorable Durham bowling performance.
Beginning the day needing a further 139 to win and with eight wickets remaining Somerset would have been slight favourites at the start of day four. Craig Kieswetter wasn’t one to hang about as he soon scored the first half century of the match.
However, this was a day for the Durham bowlers and what a day it was. Graham Onions struck the next over, James Hildreth leaving a ball that pitched well outside off stump that viciously jagged back to remove his off peg. Durham were underway.
Durham didn’t have to wait long as Chris Rushworth struck next over, trapping Jos Buttler lbw for zero. Alex Barrow didn’t last too much longer, scoring 2 before Graham Onions found his outside edge and reliable Phil Mustard taking the ball with ease.
Durham were half way there, Somerset five down and still 101 runs required.
Trego relieved the pressure and looked comfortable early on, a sumptuous cover drive for four showed his technique and timing. He couldn’t do anything though about a straight Callum Thorp delivery, falling over to the off side, he was trapped lbw for 12. The lbw theme continued with Ben Stokes trapping Alfonso Thomas for one, earning his first wicket of the innings.
Kieswetter was still in though, and a huge six off the bowling of Callum Thorp showed there was still fight in the Somerset side. Callum Thorp thought he got his own back as Kieswetter flayed at a ball outside off stump, edging to Scott Borthwick’s right at second slip. Borthwick got a hand to it with a full length dive, but couldn’t hold on.
He soon made up for this as Thorp then found Jamie Overton’s edge and Borthwick held on at second slip. Durham began to sense a pre-lunch victory.
Kieswetter had most of the strike and did a good job of protecting the Somerset tail-enders, but just as he moved into the 70s Ben Stokes found that magic ball to bowl the England International wicket-keeper, leaving Durham with just one wicket to win.
Somerset’s final pair hung in as the delayed lunch break loomed. But star man from the first innings Chris Rushworth struck, taking his 8th wicket of the match and earned Durham their first win of 2013.
After seeing off one of the league favourites Durham will be in high spirits as they travel to Warwickshire this week as they look to move top of the LV= County Championship. Keep an eye on durhamccc.co.uk for the match preview and latest team news from Edgbaston