Date-stamped : 24 Aug96 - 10:33
DAY 1
 

Rose rewards as Cox flourishes
By Tim Wellock at Weston-super-Mare 
 

First day of four: Somerset (71-1) trail Durham (326) by 255 runs
 

GRAHAM ROSE ploughed a lone furrow for Somerset yesterday as Durham 
recovered from their habitual collapse through another remarkable 
display by David Cox, who was left stranded five short of his maiden 
century.
 

Rose's exemplary control provided a stark contrast with the rest of the 
Somerset attack and his late away swing earned him his second 
seven-wicket haul of the season, taking his total to 48.
 

His post-lunch spell of five for 15 in 31 balls reduced Durham from 145 
for one to 170 for six before Cox's unorthodox belligerence provided the
highlight.
 

Cox's highest championship score before this season was 17; he improved 
that to 67 at Hove and now averages 45.9.
 

DAY 2
Lathwell steals the show
By Simon Hughes at Weston-super-Mare 
 

Second day of four: Somerset (71-1) trail Durham (326) by 255 runs
 


THE attention of John Cleese, Jeffrey Archer and Chris Evans was focused
on Weston-super-Mare yesterday, for different reasons. Cleese and Archer
are active Somerset supporters who often attend the festival; Evans was 
presenting the Radio 1 roadshow on the beach. 
 

Although a crowd of 18,000 turned up to watch the ginger motormouth in 
action, there was still a reasonable attendance on the converted 
recreation ground to see Somerset ease towards Durham's first-innings 
total, until rain ended play 90 minutes' early. 
 

Durham had a chance to take control when Simon Brown yorked 
nightwatchman Jeremy Batty and removed Peter Bowler, adjudged caught 
down the legside. Dickie Bird had his finger up only for a nanosecond 
indicating he was not all that certain either.
 

But Richard Harden doggedly held up an end while Mark Lathwell sped 
along with a succession of silkily-timed boundaries. His straight 
driving and punched clips through midwicket were especially satisfying.
 

There is an underlying diffidence about Lathwell which is often his 
undoing, however, and with a hundred there for the taking, he carelessly
flicked a ball in the air to square leg. 
 

Harden then emerged from his shell and Simon Ecclestone immediately 
adopted a forthright approach until he ricked his back.
 

DAY 3
 

Third day of four: Somerset (298-6) trail Durham (326) by 28 runs
 

Durham steady the boat
By Simon Hughes at Weston-super-Mare 
 


CLARENCE PARK was under the sea in earlier times and appeared to be so 
again following a succession of heavy afternoon showers. The umpires had
no hesitation in departing their poky caravan for the hotel at 4pm even 
though by then the tide was beginning to recede. 
 

Only 80 minutes' play was possible beforehand, in which time Richard 
Harden and Shane Lee extended their fourth-wicket partnership to 140, 34
of which had been scored by Simon Ecclestone before he retired hurt.
 

Against the improving left-arm spin of David Cox, Lee alternated between
a model forward defensive and a violent cut and Harden swept 
compulsively. Somerset looked destined for a substantial lead. 
 

Phil Bainbridge took over from Cox and his wily variations inflicted a 
measure of uncertainty. Seeking a sharp single to square leg, Lee, 
having been sent back, slipped and was run out by Jimmy Daley's throw.
 

Mike Roseberry dived forward in the next over to grasp a leading edge as
Harden worked to leg, and suddenly Durham were back on level terms. The 
patchy outfield, on the other hand, is only level when it is under 
water.
 

Source:: Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/)
 

<END> Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com)