HOW the tide has turned. Two years ago at Taunton, Durham made Somerset follow on 474 behind. Today the boot was on the other foot as Durham were sent back in, trailing by 373 after a spineless display this morning.

Somerset escaped with a draw in 2009, following their debacle of 69 all out by making 485 for five with centuries by Marcus Trescothick, Justin Langer and Craig Kieswetter.

And after losing their six remaining wickets in 65 minutes this morning to be all out for 237, Durham reached 27 without loss in their second innings at lunch.

They did, however, put on 71 for the first wicket yesterday and this time they will be looking for Will Smith, in particular, to show the sort of durability which helped him to a double century at Guildford three years ago.

Resuming on 182 for four in reply to Somerset’s 610 for six declared, the rot set in when a fifth-wicket stand of 52 was ended by a dubious decision.

Umpire Peter Willey has not seemed inclined to do his native county any favours and Phil Mustard was clearly unimpressed to be given out lbw when Steve Kirby was bowling round the wicket.

Ian Blackwell emerged with a runner following his back spasm, but three overs later the impressive Gemaal Hussain nipped one back to bowl Dale Benkenstein off his pads for 33.

Scott Borthwick and Callum Thorp both seemed too anxious to go for their shots and fell to edged catches before Blackwell, running out of partners, chipped a simple catch to mid-on.

Finally left-armer Charl Willoughby swung one through Graham Onions’ airy drive, although Onions did have the excuse that Ruel Brathwaite was unlikely to last long at the other end.