'Tomorrow we will go all out for a win' says paceman Francis

The second day of Somerset's championship match against Durham at the County Ground in Taunton ended with the game evenly balanced after the visitors finished 167 runs ahead with five second innings wickets remaining.

The start was delayed because of the heavy rain, but when play eventually got underway at 1.55.pm the Somerset batsmen struggled for runs in difficult conditions against the Durham attack of Javagal Srinath and Steve Harmison.

Apart from Rob Turner none of the Cidermen's batsmen stayed at the wicket for any length of time. In the space of fifteen overs, five wickets fell for the addition of 45 runs, as they slipped to 171 all out, 14 runs behind their opponents, with Turner remaining unbeaten on 27.

The pick of the Durham bowlers was Harmison who ended with 3 wickets for 49 runs.

The Durham second innings started little better and Richard Johnson quickly disposed of Michael Gough. Gary Pratt and Jon Lewis stayed together long enough to take the score onto 36 before Johnson struck again trapping Pratt LBW for the second time in the match.

By tea time Durham had reached 66 for 4 with Jon Lewis batting confidently, and following the break the visiting skipper brought up his second half century. However without further addition he was yorked by Simon Francis, his fifth wicket partnership with Danny Law yielding what could turn out to be a very valuable 46 runs.

Despite the best efforts of the Somerset bowlers who enjoyed little good fortune, with the final ball of the day Durham brought up the 150 without further loss will start the day tomorrow with Law unbeaten on 35 and Andy Pratt on 19.

After the close Somerset coach Kevin Shine said: "It's been another tough day for us and after setting ourselves the target of getting a lead this morning we were disappointed to fall just short of their total. Once again our bowlers have done a fine job for us and we have got that part of the game right, now we need our batters to do the same."

He continued: "In the final session we have gone past the bat on several occasions but once again we haven't had any luck. Tomorrow we will be looking to bowl them out as cheaply and quickly as we can and then get the runs that we need to win the match."

Young Somerset bowler Simon Francis who has been one of the success stories of the pace attack this season told me: "We are bowling well at the moment and giving their batsmen a hard time. Overall it's an even paced wicket and to keep them to 160 for 5 at the close we have got to be happy. Tomorrow we will look to taking their remaining wickets reasonably and go all out for a win."