Dale Benkenstein recorded his 61st first-class half-century as his Durham side held out for a draw against Somerset at Chester-le-Street.

Marcus Trescothick hit 50 as Somerset, resuming their second innings on 16-0, declared on 193-5, a lead of 284.

The visitors took two early wickets in their bid for victory but Benkenstein (50) and Michael Di Venuto (44) then put on 95 in 29 overs.

Durham were 113-4 when play was called to a halt was called at 1730 BST.

The hosts could not have got off to a worse start with the bat, first-innings centurion Mark Stoneman making only one before edging Steffan Jones to wicketkeeper Craig Kieswetter.

In the next over Will Smith edged Charl Willoughby to second slip when aiming to hit through leg, but the dependable Benkenstein's sixth Championship half-century this season virtually ended Somerset's hopes of an away win.

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Benkenstein, the Durham captain, pulled his ninth four in front of mid-wicket to reach 50, but went to drive the next ball from Peter Trego well wide of off stump and got a thick inside edge onto his stumps.

There were only 19 overs left at that point, and Ben Harmison survived a first-ball lbw appeal before Di Venuto departed in the next over, caught at short leg off Ian Blackwell's left-arm spin.

Harmison and Phil Mustard blocked out the next eight overs before Somerset settled for the draw which had always looked likely after the first four sessions were lost to the weather.

Earlier, Somerset set off by taking 14 off Graham Onions' opening over with Trescothick adding 44 off 39 balls to his overnight six, before he was lbw trying to sweep Paul Wiseman.

Somerset promoted Trego to number three and he hit 30 off 28 balls but the fourth-wicket pair of James Hildreth and the big-hitting Blackwell rarely opened their shoulders, adding 68 in 19 overs before both fell with the declaration looming.

Blackwell drove Wiseman to long-on and Hildreth had faced 96 balls for his 46 when he edged Steve Harmison to give Di Venuto his third catch at slip.