Cricket: Batsmen go on record

RECORDS fell at Taunton and Gateshead Fell yesterday as bowlers felt the force of batsmen hell bent on end of term frolics. Somerset scored 616 for 7 - their biggest total at the county ground - against Nottinghamshire, while new boys Durham were hit for 562 by Lancashire, who thereby eclipsed 543 as the highest score made against the home side set by South Africa in 1955.

Richard Harden batted for six- and-a-half hours to make a career- best 187, and, with Rob Turner scoring his maiden hundred, Somerset amassed their highest total anywhere since 1924. It left Nottinghamshire, who need a win to keep alive slim hopes of the Championship runners-up spot, facing a heavy defeat. Durham's pain, was inflicted by Mike Atherton (199) and Peter Martin (133).