Durham inch up table

Justin Langer hit a fine unbeaten century to snuff out Durham's victory hopes

Bad weather denied Durham the chance to overtake LV County Championship Division One title rivals Somerset but they did manage to reduce the gap with a full complement of bonus points at Taunton.

Durham sit third in the table with 157 points, while Somerset are two points ahead in second and one behind in-form Hampshire at the top.

Hampshire, however, have played one more match then their rivals, meaning their position could yet prove to be a false one.

Having secured three points for their efforts in the field, Durham proceeded to reach 400 for seven, and immediately declaring to prevent their opponents picking up any additional bowling points.

Their attempt at forcing a result came to nothing, with Somerset cruising to safety with 181 for two by the time the captains - one of whom, Justin Langer, carried his bat for a fine 109 not out - shook hands.

His opposite number, Dale Benkenstein, had been equally influential for his side, striking 62 not out.

Benkenstein followed the example set by opener Michael Di Venuto, who fell early on today for 135.

Elsewhere, Surrey look to be heading ignominiously towards relegation after succumbing to defeat by an innings and 122 runs against Hampshire, before salt was rubbed into their wounds with a one-point deduction for slow over-rates.

Their overnight 171 for seven became 210 all out as spinners Liam Dawson (2-32) and Imran Tahir (4-29) cleaned up the tail at the Brit Oval.

The follow-on beckoned and Hampshire fared even better with the ball second time around, rolling sorry Surrey over for just 148.

Mark Ramprakash departs for 11 as Surrey slide towards relegation from Division One

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Scott Newman (51) and Usman Afzaal (40no) provided the hosts with some token resistance but the imperious Dimitri Mascarenhas returned 4-13, claiming his fifth wicket of the match to go with his 99 with the bat.

Chris Tremlett and James Tomlinson shared the remaining six wickets to help Hampshire to the top of the standings.

In Division Two, Leicestershire and Gloucestershire were unable to force a positive result at Grace Road despite a willingness on both sides to create a viable fourth-innings chase.

Leicestershire opened with the gentlest of declaration bowlers in the morning to facilitate Gloucestershire's 198 for four off just 20.1 overs, with wicketkeeper and captain Paul Nixon even turning his arm over.

That left the hosts chasing 311 off 80 overs, but their pursuit was cut short by a session with the score at 110 for four, Nixon and Josh Cobb steadying the ship after coming together at 36 for four.

Veteran seamer Jon Lewis was the model of consistency with figures of 2-9 from his 11-over spell.

There were more free runs on offer at Wantage Road as another wicketkeeper, Essex's James Foster, took the new ball to concede 122 runs in 12 overs, seven fewer than skipper Mark Pettini shipped from the same number.

That allowed Northamptonshire to race to 251 declared off 24 overs and give Essex a victory target of 300 in 70 overs.

Again, rain intervened with the away team on 60 for three, and the draw advanced neither side's outside chances of promotion.

At the SWALEC Stadium there was no play for a third successive day, leaving just three sessions for Glamorgan and Worcestershire to try to collect points.