Somerset strike after Compton's double
Nick Compton finished on 254 not out as Somerset continued their rapid improvement as they dominated Durham in their County Championship match at Chester-le-Street
11-May-2011
Nick Compton finished on 254 not out as Somerset continued their rapid improvement as they dominated Durham in their County Championship match at Chester-le-Street. Somerset had lost their first two games of the season but they declared on 610 for 6 before reducing their hosts to 182 for 4.
Compton, whose preHvious best of 190 for Middlesex at Lord's five years ago was also against Durham, equalled the second highest score made at the Emirates Durham ground. Michael Di Venuto made the same score against Sussex two years ago and the only higher one was also by an Australian for Durham, Martin Love scoring 273 against Hampshire in 2003.
Somerset's total was also the second highest on the ground behind Durham's 648 for 5 against Nottinghamshire two years ago. For the second successive day Durham took an early wicket and were unable to follow it up as Peter Trego contributed 98 off 100 balls to a stand of 191.
Jos Buttler departed to the seventh ball of the day, edging a back-foot shot off Callum Thorp to the wicketkeeper. Compton's vigil lasted just over nine hours after he went in to face the eighth ball of the innings. He faced 434 balls and hit 24 fours and one six.
He batted better on the first day in reaching 149 and after being dropped off the last ball of the day at first slip he almost edged Graham Onions to second slip in today's first over. On 159 he ducked into a ball from Onions which struck him fiercely on the helmet, but he was as unruffled by that as he was by two confident appeals for caught behind on 151 and 217.
Compton completed his double hundred by hitting a Scott Borthwick full toss over mid-wicket for his 21st four. While he was never fluent, Compton didn't need to be as there was always someone scoring quickly at the other end.
Trego hit 12 fours and two sixes before leg-spinner Borthwick hurried one on to him just above ankle height to gain an lbw verdict.
Durham's reply began with a stand of 71, but Will Smith was never comfortable and made only 13 before edging a checked drive to third slip, where Trego dived to hold an excellent catch. Steve Kirby also took the next wicket when Gordon Muchall pushed forward and edged to James Hildreth at first slip.
Ben Stokes made his way confidently to 21 before he was undone by extra bounce from the 6ft 5in Gemaal Hussain. The left-hander flashed at a ball he could have left alone he edged a head high catch to Hildreth.
Di Venuto had looked in complete command but he was fourth out for 86 with the total on 139. He had stroked 13 fours, but in trying to attack the accurate seam bowling of 18-year-old Devonian Lewis Gregory he sliced a drive to Compton at point. Dale Benkenstein and Phil Mustard added 43 runs in the final 11 overs.
