Durham v Somerset: Day three lunch
BEN Harmison will be on a hat-trick when play resumes after lunch at Chester-le-Street today.
The all-rounder took two Somerset wickets from the last two balls of the session of the County Championship match, now in its third day.
It provided a much-needed filip for a Durham side buffeted by the wind and frustrated by the batsmen.
Both wickets were lbw, Jos Buttler caught out by one which kept low, and Ben Phillips struck first ball by one which got up much more.
Until then, Somerset had been making serene progress towards the County Championship trophy, with the holders struggling to do anything about it.
When Durham last played Somerset, only three weeks ago, it looked like the title had eluded both sides as Nottinghamshire strolled to a contrived victory at home to Lancashire. But the leaders have wobbled horribly since.
With Notts frustrated by the Manchester weather, Somerset are suddenly in the driving seat. They have taken six bonus points from the match so far, putting them four clear at the top.
Until Harmison's intervention it had been an annoying morning for Durham, who missed three chances in the morning session. Two were extremely difficult, one a sitter.
The transition from recreational to professional cricket is a difficult one and after a good first impression yesterday, debutant Ruel Brathwaite found it harder going today.
Buttler pulled the ball hard but straight to the 25-year-old at mid-on, only for the chance to be grassed. The England Under-19 international was 25 not out at the time.
Bowling conditions were very difficult in a wind which blew umpire Rob Bailey's hat off at one stage, much to the amusement of Ian Blackwell. All the bowlers struggled and while Brathwaite continued to show the fire of the previous day, his figures of 6-0-27-0 did nothing to demand the contract he is hoping for next season.
As well as producing the worst fielding of the session, Brathwaite also produced arguably the best - a good diving stop which was not enough to stop Peter Trego bringing up his 100 partnership with James Hildreth, but denied him a four.
Durham also had to contend with Trego in dominant form. The all-rounder took just 46 balls to reach 50, a lovely cover drive the best of his nine fours.
He had just four more when he tried to hook Brathwaite, but wicketkeeper Phil Mustard was only able to tip the tip edge over the bar.
Trego, who slog-swept a six off Ian Blackwell, went for 69 when a Liam Plunkett delivery kept low on him and he played on.
The elegant Hildreth took 94 deliveries making his half-century, with six fours, and Somerset will look to him to ram home their advantage in the afternoon session.
Buttler looked set to reach the landmark himself after an escape on 19. He edged the ball through the legs of first slip Michael Di Venuto, close to the bat for the bowling of Blackwell. It was a very difficult chance, but Di Venuto is a top-class slip fielder.
Buttler looked in prime form, pulling successive Blackwell balls to the boundary. The first brought up the 50 partnership, the second went for six. But Harmison cut him short on 39.
At lunch Somerset were 348-7 in reply to Durham's 286.
For a full report of the third day's play, ready Thursday's Journal.
