Overton Demolishes Durham as 22 Wickets Fall on Wild Opening Day at Taunton

Craig Overton tore through Durham’s batting with a sensational six-wicket haul as 22 wickets fell on a dramatic first day of the County Championship Division One clash between Somerset and Durham at Taunton.

In a chaotic day dominated by bowlers on a green-tinged pitch, Somerset closed in a commanding position after bowling Durham out for 145 and replying with 250. Durham were left reeling at 5 for 2 in their second innings, still trailing by 100 runs.

Overton was in electrifying form, finishing with figures of 6 for 23 in a spell that saw him twice on a hat-trick. The experienced seamer needed just ten overs to rip through the top and middle order, with Ben Raine's defiant 42 the only notable resistance.

Asked to bat first under heavy skies, Durham made a bright start before Overton and Lewis Gregory turned the tide. Emilio Gay was first to go, edging to second slip. Colin Ackermann followed next ball, caught at first slip, before David Bedingham nicked Gregory behind.

Rain interrupted briefly, but the carnage resumed immediately after lunch. Overton struck with his first two balls of the session, removing Ollie Robinson and Graham Clark cheaply. Durham captain Alex Lees, who had looked promising with 27, miscued a big hit and was caught by Overton himself.

George Drissell, batting against his former club, was Overton’s sixth victim as he drove loosely to mid-off. The rest of the tail folded quickly, with Josh Davey and Jake Ball cleaning up the final wickets as Durham crumbled in just 30.1 overs.

In response, Somerset came out blazing. Davey and Tom Kohler-Cadmore launched a counterattack, racing to a 50-run stand in just over seven overs. Kohler-Cadmore hit three sixes before skying a return catch to Neil Wagner with the score on 62.

The innings then wobbled as Matthew Potts and Drissell struck in quick succession. Rew, Abell, and Banton all fell cheaply as Somerset slipped to 103 for 4. But opener Tom Lammonby held firm, scoring a fluent 89 off 109 balls with eight boundaries. His innings, combined with Archie Vaughan’s support and handy lower-order runs, gave Somerset a vital 105-run first-innings lead.

Drissell, though, provided a bright spot for Durham. The off-spinner claimed his maiden five-wicket haul (5 for 59), removing Lammonby, Overton, and Ball in quick succession to end Somerset’s innings at 250.

Looking to survive the final overs, Durham were rocked again. Off-spinner Vaughan struck with his second ball, removing Lees to a sharp catch at slip, and Jack Leach pinned nightwatchman Callum Parkinson lbw to leave the visitors 5 for 2 at stumps.

With 22 wickets falling on day one, Somerset now hold all the cards in a match that is rapidly unfolding.

Score at stumps, Day 1:
Durham 145 (Raine 42; Overton 6-23) and 5 for 2
Somerset 250 (Lammonby 89; Drissell 5-59)
Durham trail by 100 runs with 8 second-innings wickets remaining.