THE County Championship title race is wide open after leaders Durham were beaten for only the second time this season today.

Having twice beaten Lancashire in recent matches, the Red Rose are suddenly favourites to life the title.

Durham remain top by five points with as many matches to play, but Lancashire have a game in hand, against Nottinghamshire at Southport next week.

Somerset reached their victory target of 119 at Taunton with nine wickets to spare.

Graham Onions gave Durham a glimmer of hope when Marcus Trescothick dragged on a ball not wide enough to cut for 25. With the Cidermen 41-1 there was just a chance nerves may play into the visitors' hands.

Arul Suppiah did not seem to be suffering them, as the upper cut out of the reach of Callum Thorp at gully to bring up the 50 proved.

And although Mitchell Claydon again bowled with good pace and hostility, Somerset were more concenred by the threat of rain at that stage. 70-1 when he was introduced after 15 overs, the batsmen noticeably put their foot down, with some running between the wickets which would have been unneccessary under blue skies.

A late cut brought up Suppiah's half-century and his team's 100. The Malaysian-born batsman reached the figure off 55 deliveries, with seven fours. He followed it with a six driven through midwicket off Ian Blackwell, and a straight four.

Victory was wrapped up with 21.1 overs remaining when Suppiah tucked the ball into the legside. He made 66, Nick Compton 18.

Tellingly, Stephen Harmison was never thrown the ball after a wayward first-day performance. The Ashington Express ought by rights to be the man most under threat if Durham revert back to their usual two-spinner policy in the next Championship match, at home to Nottinghamshire.

Durham picked up just four points from their efforts in a match in which too many players have not performed to their capabilities. Somerset claimed the maximum 24.

See tomorrow's Journal for a full report of the day's play.