Report: Somerset vs Durham Day 1

By Jon Steer
April 24 2003

Durham's opening championship match of the season is looking troubled after we stumbled to a first innings total of 185. Only Jon Lewis has found any form, he opened the batting and made 78 after winning the toss and electing to bat.

Durham's batting performance looks to have taken up from where we left off last season! Just 185 scored is not good enough.

The only good point of the innings from Durham's point of view was the form of Jon Lewis, his solid innings was in marked contrast to that of Gary Pratt who coming in at number three following the dismissal of Gough for 14 faced only seven balls, hitting Richard Johnson for two fours before been caught leg before.

Johnson was the main cause of Durham's poor morning taking four wickets in his two spells. West Indian Nixon McLean also caused the batsmen problems and took the wicket of debutant Vince Wells who had looked like he had played himself in.

Nicky Peng, fresh from his award of Durham's player of the season last week scored just 15 before he became Johnson's third victim. Danny Law then faced only four balls before falling to Johnson just before lunch.

Lewis completed his half-century just before lunch as it was becoming clear that big things were needed from him. Hopefully his performance is a sign of things to come from the more experienced players.

After lunch things did improve somewhat, Andy Pratt out up some resistance under pressure before he became Johnsons fifth victim, Nicky Philips followed soon after. Neil Killeen helped his captain push the score along a bit but when Lewis fell, caught behind off Francis the end came quickly with Killeen and then Harmison falling to the same bowler.

Durham's bowlers were forced to work hard as the Somertset openers dug in. Harmy was accurate and miserly while Srinath suffered at the hands of Trescothick.

With Somerset on 91-0 it was Vince Wells that made the crucial breakthrough, removing Trescothick for 60. That signalled a change in fortune for Durham. Neil Killeen picked up the wicket of the other opener, Bowler and then Javaghal Srinath trapped Cox lbw first ball.

Wells then went on to take the wickets of Burns and Francis to leave Somerset on 126-5 and Durham in with a good chance of removing the tail and keeping a first innings lead tomorrow.

Click on the link below for the scorecard.