DURHAM failed to gain a batting point for the fourth successive match when they were dismissed for 189 after losing four wickets for three runs in four overs after lunch. Somerset reached 34 for one at tea with Marcus Trescothick on 26.

Durham's slump was stemmed by a brief counter-attack from John Hastings as he Gordon Muchall shared a 50 stand in 48 balls before Craig Overton removed both to finish with four for 40.

Keaton Jennings added one run to his lunchtime 48 before stalking off, apparently unhappy with the lbw decision when trying to whip Tim Groenewald through mid-wicket.

Three overs later the gentle pace of Jim Allenby somehow induced a ball to leap and see off Michael Richardson for 32. He fended to second slip, where Trescothick parried it above his right shoulder and held on to the rebound.

Calum MacLeod's disappointing run in the championship continued when he sliced the second ball he faced to backward point off Allenby.

When Paul Coughlin stayed on his crease and was lbw to Groenewald three wickets had gone down in ten balls for one run.

That run got Muchall off the mark off the tenth ball he faced and he then began to play shots, hitting front and back-foot fours through the covers off Overton.

Hastings also set about the paceman, receiving a bouncer and a lengthy stare before a yorker splattered his stumps after making 28 off 27 balls.

Muchall went for 24 when he pushed forward and edged another good ball to Trescothick at second slip. Chris Rushworth was last out when he spooned Peter Trego to extra cover.

In the first over of Somerset's reply Trescothick survived a confident lbw appeal from Rushworth.

Tom Abell fell for four when he drove at Rushworth and edged to wicketkeeper Richardson.