Somerset can't put brakes on hostile Harmison as Durham chase prize

Somerset tried to nullify the Durham pace attack by preparing a slow Taunton pitch, but still found themselves unable to cope with Steve Harmison on Wednesday.

This battle of Division One challengers who have never won the championship swung in Durham's favour when Harmison took five wickets, including the prized scalp of Marcus Trescothick, to dismiss Somerset for 234 after they had won the toss and left out Andrew Caddick in favour of a second spinner in Michael Munday.

Harmison was hardly at his lethal best but again produced the kind of hostile bowling that has propelled Durham to a position from where they can push for the greatest honour in their 16-year first-class history.

Steve Harmison celebrates taking the wicket of Marcus Trescothick

There was minimal movement from a surface which Somerset looked to have prepared with a draw in mind, as they went into this pivotal contest just four points behind leaders Nottinghamshire with a game in hand.

Yet at county level Harmison does not need much assistance to dominate and Durham were grateful their spearhead has realised the more bowling he does the better he becomes and asked England if he could play on while most of the centrally contracted players rested.

Harmison celebrates bowling Somerset's Alfonso Thomas at Taunton

Durham were 11 points off the top, also with a game in hand on Notts, and seven behind Somerset in third place before yesterday but claimed maximum bowling points while Somerset could muster just one with the bat.

Durham reduced their deficit by 45 runs for the loss of Mark Stoneman.

Somerset have been waiting 101 years longer than Durham for that elusive title but find themselves very much in contention even though they have only won three Division One games in this sodden season.

Their chances of adding a fourth victory declined from the moment Zander de Bruyn, the one man to look at ease against Harmison, was bizarrely run out attempting a third leg-bye.

Earlier Justin Langer, the Australian who has galvanised Somerset with his captaincy, rode his luck before being put out of his misery by Callum Thorp and Trescothick, a colossus for Somerset now his England days are over, top edged Harmison for six before falling next ball to a sharp slip catch.

Other than that the only resistance came from Peter Trego, who pulled Harmison for six before being bowled by him. ' When I came back for England in one-day cricket one of the things I insisted on was being allowed to play for Durham for the rest of the season,' said Harmison.

'I came back from New Zealand with my confidence low and they were fantastic to me. Winning the title would be an unbelievable achievement after just 16 years and it would mean everything.'

• England captain Kevin Pietersen and bowler Ryan Sidebottom were included in the LG ICC World Team of the Year. West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul was named Cricketer of the Year. WORLD XI: Smith (SA, capt), Sehwag (Ind), Jayawardene (SL), Chanderpaul (WI), Pietersen (Eng), Kallis (SA), Sangakkara (SL, wkt), Lee (A), Sidebottom (Eng), Steyn (SA), Muralitharan (SL).