COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE, Taunton
Somerset v Durham
28 April-1 May (Play starts 1100 BST)
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY THREE: Durham 543, Somerset 69 and 178-1(Somerset 3 pts, Durham 8 pts)

Trescothick is only 10 runs away from his first century of the season

An unbeaten 90 from Marcus Trescothick boosted Somerset's chances of saving their game against Durham after a rain-affected third day at Taunton.

Only 24 overs were possible before play was finally abandoned at 1715 BST.

In that time Trescothick and James Hildreth (52 not out) had few alarms as they added 95 to their overnight 83-1 to reach 178-1 at the close.

Somerset still need a further 391 to avoid an innings defeat after being rolled for 69 in reply to Durham's 543.

Play did not get underway until 1345 BST, wiping out 24 overs, and there were two more interruptions before the players left the field for the final time at 1600 BST.

But in the play that was possible, Trescothick enjoyed a measure of revenge on Durham paceman Graham Onions, who had taken six wickets in Somerset's first innings, including that of the former England opener.

Onions, called up to the England Test squad on Wednesday, bowled eight overs in two spells at a cost of 39 runs.

Trescothick reached his 50 off 92 balls, and pulled Steve Harmison for six to move on to 74.

Hildreth reached his own half-century just before the close, with the second-wicket partnership worth 129.

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