Trescothick, Compton pile on the runs

Somerset 383 for 4 (Trescothick 144, Compton 149*) v Durham
Scorecard

Centuries by Marcus Trescothick and Nick Compton made Durham's returning skipper Phil Mustard pay for putting Somerset in to bat in their County Championship clash at Chester-le-Street. On an easy-paced pitch the visitors closed the first day on 383 for 4 with Compton still there on 149. Jos Buttler was the other unbeaten batsman after former England opener Trescothick had produced an attacking 144.

Graham Onions took 2 for 71 as the hosts toiled, while Dale Benkenstein proved economical as he conceded just 31 runs from his 13 overs, but the hosts will already know they are likely to need a fine batting display to avoid defeat.

Durham recalled Mustard after he recovered from a toe injury, but although Steve Harmison made his comeback from an arm injury in the second team last week he was unable to oust Ruel Brathwaite.

Things had looked promising for Durham when Compton had to go in to face the eighth ball of the day after Callum Thorp had Arul Suppiah caught at third slip without scoring, but the hosts had to wait 60 overs to take another wicket.

Coming on first change, Brathwaite opened up with an excellent maiden then conceded only two in his second over before losing his accuracy as Trescothick set about him. His next two overs cost 26 and he was later pulled for four and six in one over to take the visiting captain to his century from 127 balls.

Once Trescothick began to drive Thorp effortlessly through extra cover, while never missing a chance to cut and pull, a big score looked inevitable. The powerful left-hander hit 11 fours in his half-century before Mustard called on Benkenstein to stem the flow prior to lunch, when he bowled five overs for just two runs.

But Trescothick took 10 runs off his first four balls after the break, twice driving wide of mid-off for four. After completing his century he advanced to lift former team-mate Ian Blackwell over midwicket for his third six and was looking for a fourth when he was out in legspinner Scott Borthwick's second over as he skied a catch to Braithwaite.

But there was little respite for the bowling attack as James Hildreth proved just as fluent in racing to a 49-ball half-century. He was dropped at mid-on by Gordon Muchall off Borthwick on 18 and promptly cut loose, reaching 50 just four overs later before Onions, wicketless in his first two spells, had him caught behind in the first over with the new ball.

He also had 19-year-old Alex Barrow taken at first slip after the youngster was drafted in to replace Craig Kieswetter, who pulled out with a thigh injury. But Compton and Buttler managed to get Somerset to the close without any further losses.