NICK Compton rode his luck and a blow on the helmet to grind his way to a double century for Somerset against Durham.

For the second successive day Durham took an early wicket and were unable to follow it up as Somerset reached 515 for five at lunch.

Compton’s previous best was 190, made against Durham for Middlesex at Lord’s in 2006, when the hosts were made to follow on and scored 503 in their second innings.

In his first season with Somerset last year, Compton totalled 465 runs in 11 matches without making a century.

He almost departed this morning without adding to his overnight 149 as he edged Graham Onions’ fifth ball just wide of second slip for two runs. His third 50 had taken 104 balls and without addition he survived a very confident appeal for a catch behind the wicket off Onions.

Compton was on 159 when he ducked into a ball from Onions and was struck fiercely on the helmet. But after two minutes of attention from the physio he continued and promptly edged a four.

Without ever looking in command this morning, Compton completed his double hundred by clobbering a Scott Borthwick full toss over mid-wicket for his 21st four. He reached the landmark off 356 balls.

Peter Trego, who drove Borthwick’s first ball of the day for a straight six, raced to 50 off 56 balls and was on 61 at lunch.