Durham have had a solid day at the crease, surpassing Somerset’s first innings with opener Mark Stoneman making a well-earned century and skipper Paul Collingwood also in control at the crease on day three.
Earlier in the day Durham resumed at 163-3 and it was the in-form Mark Stoneman (78no) who looked to be the key at the crease when play started. He was joined by Ben Stokes after Smith was dismissed on the last ball of the day yesterday.
Stoneman continued to put runs on the board, making his way through the nervous nineties to make his second century of the season and 6th in first class cricket. His 100 came off 160 balls and included 16 fours.
Stoneman and Stokes combined to put on 73 before Stoneman’s superb innings came to an end, dismissed for 122. Stokes continued to put runs on the Durham tally and combined with skipper Paul Collingwood to put on 47 before Stokes went just before lunch for 57.
The reliable Phil Mustard then came to the crease and looked in good touch early. Mustard and Collingwood put Durham past 300 to gain their third batting point and put on 41 runs before Mustard was caught by Suppian after a quickfire 30.
Collingwood continued to look poised and controlled at the crease as did the new man in Richardson with the pair combining to earn Durham a fourth batting point as they put on a 101 run stand before Richardson’s solid innings of 70 came to an end after he was run out.
Mark Wood then came to the crease and combined with Collingwood as Durham edged closer to the Somerset total. Wood was dismissed after a short cameo having contributed a handy 20 leaving Durham 451-8.
Despite losing Buckley shortly after to go nine wickets down, Onions (17) and Collingwood added a further 37 runs for the last wicket until Collingwood’s solid knock of 70 was ended, Durham all out for 493, a lead of 35.
Somerset faced three overs at the end of the day to be 7-0 with the match looking like it would be a draw going into the final day tomorrow.