IT was like turning back the clock two years to that wonderful day when Durham had to wait for Nottinghamshire’s match at Trent Bridge to end before they could officially be crowned champions for the first time.

But while those who made the pilgrimage to Canterbury were suitably rewarded, for the 300 Somerset fans at Chester-le-Street the day ended in agony.

They might have been dancing in Dunster and turning cartwheels in Taunton last night, but the Cidermen were denied their first county title when they had to watch Nottinghamshire draw level on points and pip them by virtue of more wins.

Somerset dismissed Durham for 320, leaving themselves a target of 181 in 17 overs. Under Twenty20 rules on an unused pitch victory might have been possible, but not with their old team-mate Ian Blackwell able to bowl into fourth day rough.

He bowled Craig Kieswetter through a wild slog and had Peter Trego stumped, while Marcus Trescothick made 21 off 22 balls before driving Ruel Brathwaite to extra cover.

With three wickets down and 144 needed off ten overs Somerset decided not to risk throwing away the three points for a draw. They were 48 for three when hands were shaken with five overs left.

Because of the change in playing times to allow Somerset to catch a 7pm flight from Newcastle ahead of tomorrow’s CB 40 final, there was still an hour to play at Old Trafford.

The Somerset contingent then had to watch Nottinghamshire take the three wickets they needed. The longtime leaders had just scraped to the fifth batting point with nine wickets down and they had 16 overs to grab the one bowling point which would clinch the title.

It took them only 4.4 overs, with Shivnarine Chanderpaul the third victim. With most of those watching on Durham’s giant screen willing him to prove his usual tenacious self he lasted only three balls before edging Andre Adams to the wicketkeeper.

Trescothick said: “The lads are distraught. To get so close to winning it for the first time really is gutting. It was tough when we lost the Twenty20 final, and now it will be hard to lift everyone for Saturday.

But the bags are packed, we have a flight to catch and we have to switch back on.”

Durham coach Geoff Cook confirmed that Brathwaite, the 25-year-old West Indian paceman, had been offered a contract for next season, adding: “It’s up to him now.

Other counties are also interested.”

Cook denied that any other bowlers had been approached and is hoping to have more of his seamers fit next season.

He added: “Graham Onions has had his operation and it has gone well, but we won’t know if it has been a success until March or April.

“Steve Harmison has to give his foot time to heal then needs to do some serious work to get his conditioning right.

This season he was behind where he thought he was and wasn’t fit enough for regular bowling.

“Somerset’s bowlers are fit guys who are leaner than ours, but there’s a lot of luck involved in staying fit. Last year we were pretty fortunate with injuries.

“We have played with a lot of character in the second half of the season, but it’s a difficult season to assess because of all the disruptions we’ve had.

“The development of some young players has been encouraging, but for some there needs to be a realisation of the standards that are necessary and the work they need to do to get there.”

Michael Di Venuto signed off with a wonderful innings of 129 and as long as he was there Durham looked like holding out.

They were 255 for three, 115 ahead, until two wickets fell in the last two overs before lunch. Di Venuto pushed forward and edged Trego to Kieswetter, then Murali Kartik had Blackwell taken off bat and pad. In his last four innings of the season Blackwell scored 24, 22, 23, 23.

In 24 overs in an afternoon session shortened by a shower, Durham added only 32 runs with Dale Benkenstein determined to make Somerset earn their rewards.

Durham lost two wickets straight after tea. Scott Borthwick played on against Trego, the ball reaching the stumps with just enough momentum to dislodge a bail, then Liam Plunkett was lbw to a yorkerlength ball from Charl Willoughby.

Chris Rushworth showed no inclination to hang around, racing to 16 before skying an attempted pull to be caught by Kieswetter.

Battling injuries to the end, Benkenstein had to wait to go in at No 7 because he had spent a lengthy period off the field.

The man who captained Durham to their first title two years ago was last out for 25, but by surviving for 95 balls he had effectively ended Trescothick’s chance to emulate him.

Scoreboard

Durham v Somerset At Emirates

Overnight: Somerset 426 (J C Hildreth 105, M E Trescothick 75; B W Harmison 4-94).

Durham 286 (D M Benkenstein 72; B J Phillips4-60) and 171-2 (M J Di Venuto 84 no).

Durham Second Innings

M J Di Venuto c Kieswetter b Trego .....129

B W Harmison c Kieswetter b Thomas ..15

I D Blackwell c Buttler b Kartik ..............23

P Mustard lbw b Thomas .......................12

D M Benkenstein c T’thick b W’ughby ..25

S G Borthwick b Trego ......................... 5

L E Plunkett lbw b Willoughby ............... 2

C Rushworth c Kieswetter b Trego ........16

R M Brathwaite not out ......................... 0

Extras (b18 lb14 nb12 pens 0) ....44

Total (110.4 overs) .................320

Fall: 1-33 2-146 3-214 4-255 5-255 6-275 7- 289 8-294 9-315

Bowling: Willoughby 22.4-5-51-2. Phillips 22-3-67-1. Thomas 17-4-52-2. Trego 17-2- 61-4. Kartik 32-11-57-1.

Somerset Second Innings

M E Trescothick c B’wick b Brathwaite .21

C Kieswetter b Blackwell ...................... 3

P D Trego st Mustard b Blackwell ......... 2

J C Buttler not out ................... 6

N R Compton not out ...........................12

Extras (b3 lb1 pens 0) ................. 4

Total 3 wkts (12 overs).................48

Fall: 1-20 2-28 3-32

Bowling: Brathwaite 6-0-25-1. Blackwell 6- 1-19-2.

Durham ICG.Durham (8pts) drew with Somerset (11pts).