Dockrell spins Somerset to victory

Somerset 400 for 9 dec (Trego 89) and 152 for 5 (Suppiah 73) beat Durham 384 and 167 (Dockrell 6-29) by five wickets
Scorecard

George Dockrell claimed his second six-wicket haul at Taunton this season to bowl Somerset to an unlikely three-day County Championship win over Durham.

Dockrell, the 19-year-old Irish left-arm spinner, took 6 for 29 as the visitors were shot out for 167 in their second innings, having conceded a first-innings deficit of 16. Set 152 to win, Somerset were 17 for 2 at one point. But Arul Suppiah (73) and James Hildreth (31) eased any nerves with a third-wicket stand of 83 as the hosts romped home by five wickets.

The day began with Somerset 357 for 8 in their first innings. Peter Trego extended his overnight score of 67 to 89 with some meaty blows before losing his middle stump to Jamie Harrison, who claimed 4 for 112 on his Championship debut.

Dockrell and Jamie Overton scored the remaining 11 runs for maximum batting points and Hildreth immediately declared, hoping his bowlers could take advantage of some rare cloud cover.

Jamie Overton responded by having Michael Di Venuto (26) caught in the slips with the total on 36, but there was no sign of the carnage to come as Durham progressed to 69 for 1.

Then three wickets fell without a run added. Mark Stoneman was taken at first slip trying to withdraw the bat from a Craig Overton delivery, Ben Stokes fell to a catch at third slip off the same bowler and Will Smith was snapped up at second slip off Alfonso Thomas.

Paul Collingwood and Ian Blackwell looked to be steadying the ship, only for four wickets to tumble with the total on 131, all to Dockrell, bowling from the River End. Blackwell gave a return catch just when threatening to break loose. Phil Mustard was caught at short-leg off bat and pad, Liam Plunkett was well caught above his head by Craig Overton at mid-off and Callum Thorp was taken by Jamie Overton in the covers.

Suddenly it was 131 for 8 and Durham led by only 115. Collingwood did his best to lift the total before edging a big shot to Hildreth at slip, giving Dockrell his fifth wicket. He soon made it six by having Harrison caught by Jos Buttler running in from cover, but his figures were not a season's best. He took 6 for 27 in the opening Championship game against Middlesex.

After losing Alex Barrow first ball and Nick Compton for 8, Somerset needed a positive response. Suppiah supplied it, moving to an attractive half-century off 72 balls, with five fours and three sixes, before falling lbw to Smith with only 23 needed.

Compton's dismissal means he still needs 59 for 1,000 first-class runs before the end of May. He will probably have one Championship innings on the first two days at Worcester next week to achieve the milestone.