MORE abject batting from Durham's middle order left them scrambling to avoid the follow-on at Taunton yesterday.

They were still 17 short of the target when the ninth wicket fell, but an unbeaten 46 from Andrew Pratt took them past the target before they were all out for 235.

But it was scant consolation as Somerset stretched their lead of 140 by reaching 68 for two in their second innings at the close of the second day.

Mark Davies, who began the day as the country's leading wicket-taker in the championship with 21, took both wickets but the day's bowling honours belonged to Richard Johnson.

After tormenting Durham with nine wickets in the match at Taunton last season, Johnson took seven for 69 yesterday, but well as he bowled he was flattered by a number of indifferent strokes.

Paul Collingwood began confidently with two fours through mid-wicket off Nixon McLean but then slapped a slower ball from Johnson straight to point.

Worse followed as Nicky Peng fell lbw playing across the line for his third duck in the last five championship innings. It appeared he was taking a big stride forward in terms of building innings when he began the season with scores of 49, 66 and 51, but in five knocks since he has totalled seven runs.

Gordon Muchall went second ball, pushing forward and edging to the wicketkeeper, while Gary Pratt scored one before he also nicked one he could probably have left alone to Rob Turner.

Although the promised sunshine did not materialise until Somerset batted again in the evening, there were no problems in the first 40 minutes as Durham reached 46 without loss in the best batting conditions they have had this season.

The hint of sunshine then disappeared and in increasing murk Durham stumbled to 71 for five before bad light caused a 20-minute hold-up at 12.30.

Standing firm through all the mayhem was skipper Jon Lewis, who shrugged off his own poor form to make 65 without looking in any difficulty.

He was seventh out with the total on 145 and it took perhaps Johnson's best ball to end his 137-ball innings, which included ten fours.

Lewis went half forward to a full-length ball which moved late and took out his off stump. His movement away from the right-handers brought Johnson most of his wickets as three were caught by wicketkeeper Rob Turner and left-hander Marcus North was lbw, as was Neil Killeen.

Durham could count themselves unlucky to face Johnson as he rarely stays fit for long and is returning in this match after a calf injury which kept him out of three one-day games.

He got through 23 overs, while Andrew Caddick bowled 21 and Nixon McLean 19. They form a potent trio, but the lack of back-up, which Durham might have exploited with more application, was emphasised by the fact that Keith Parsons was the only other bowler used.

His nine overs of medium pace brought him none for 48, with Gareth Breese hitting him for six and four in his first over followed by three fours off the first three balls after lunch.

Breese contributed 41 off 43 balls to a sixth wicket stand of 65 with Lewis, but when the captain followed in Johnson's next over it became a real battle to avoid the follow-on.

Fortunately, Andrew Pratt was joined by Shoaib Akhtar in responsible mood and the Pakistani made 25 in a stand of 54 before McLean bowled him two bouncers followed by a full-length ball which splattered his stumps.

After losing Killeen, Pratt brought the follow-on target within sight by cutting successive balls from McLean for four, then Davies hit a back-foot four through the covers off Johnson.

With three needed Caddick returned and Pratt drove his sixth ball through extra cover for his seventh four.

Durham had to bowl 29 overs in the evening session, but Shoaib's five-over burst was repelled quite comfortably by Peter Bowler and 20-year-old left-hander Neil Edwards.

As in the first innings, Shoaib then left the field for a while as he appears to be feeling a few twinges. He returned but didn't bowl again and it was again left to Davies to make the breakthrough.

He moved one in to have Bowler lbw for 25 with the total on 59 and in his next over Edwards chipped a catch to Lewis at mid-off.

Matthew Wood and Jamie Cox cautiously played out the remaining overs, leaving Somerset 208 ahead.

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