Chanderpaul hit nine fours and two sixes in his 176-ball knock

Shivnarine Chanderpaul celebrated being crowned ICC Cricketer of the Year with a crucial innings in Durham's quest for a maiden Championship title.

Chanderpaul made 93 and Michael Di Venuto an unbeaten 131 as Durham took control of second-placed Somerset on a rain-affected day thee at Taunton.

After resuming on 45-1, fourth-placed Durham lost just two wickets before closing on 265-3, a lead of 41 runs.

Chanderpaul fell to Charl Willoughby and Will Smith to Alfonso Thomas.

But, weather permitting, Durham look well placed to take maximum bonus points and move top of Division One.

In contrast, Somerset's lack of productivity with the ball on a benign surface has jeopardised their chances of more than a solitary bowling bonus point.

Having been dismissed for 224 on day, their major target will be to restrict Durham to below 400, which would deliver a maximum first-innings bounty.

Play was delayed for one hour by morning rain and a match already shed of its first day by the wet weather became an attritional affair upon the resumption.

The scoring rate accelerated in the final session after heavy rain fell on the stroke of tea, causing a delay which took a further 11 overs from the day's allocation.

Chanderpaul emphasised the greater urgency by planting the first two deliveries back from spinner Ian Blackwell into the stand at long-on, while Di Venuto brought up three figures in the following over.

The breakthrough arrived with the second new ball when Chanderpaul aimed a cut at Willoughby and inside-edged into his stumps.

That ended a crucial 174-run stand for the third wicket.

Earlier, just 27 runs came in the opening 24 overs of the afternoon session.

The monotony was broken when Chanderpaul cut a boundary off left-arm spinner Ian Blackwell.

Di Venuto survived two dropped chances, firstly when Zander de Bruyn failed to cling on at short cover and then when Marcus Trescothick floored one at midwicket.

The Australian opener made Somerset pay for their missed opportunities, which were especially frustrating for the hosts after Smith was yorked by Alfonso Thomas in the sixth full over of the morning.

Realistically, Somerset will now be looking secure draw that would take them top of the table.