SOMERSET assistant coach Jason Kerr says the form of Craig Overton is a huge plus heading into Sunday's County Championship clash against Surrey at the Kia Oval.

Overton, who returned from a two-match ban, took 3-27 in the students' first innings before smashing 69 off just 37 balls to help Somerset amass 480-9 in their second innings, a lead of 714 - and Kerr described the all-rounder's performance as 'outstanding'.

Kerr said: “Craig Overton has been outstanding and he will be available for the Surrey game and a few of the other guys have stood up which will give us a few section headaches for the game at the Oval next week.

“The good thing for us was that the players had time on their feet in a match situation after losing two days at Durham last week.

"We have had three days when the guys have scored heavily, the bowlers bowled in the areas we are looking to bowl in for the Surrey game and the attitude has been outstanding throughout.

“We weren’t quite on the money at Durham and we needed to sharpen our skills which is what we have done over the last few days.”

Resuming yesterday morning on 259 for three James Hildreth and Roelof van der Merwe took the total onto 293 when the latter was out for 36, the first of James Turpin’s three victims in the session.

Two overs later the young Cornishman struck again when he had Peter Trego caught by his former King’s College team mate Neil Brand without scoring.

Hildreth saw the 300 onto the board and looked to be closing in on a century but on 96 he was caught by ‘keeper Cameron Herring off Turpin.

Ryan Davies was joined by Craig Overton and in the space of 10 overs the pair added 103 runs to take Somerset onto 421 before Davies retired on 66 off 40 balls after being hit on the hand. Craig Overton and his twin brother Jamie added 34 in three overs when Craig was dismissed, while Jamie made 30 off 35 balls.

Facing an unlikely target of 715 for victory in two sessions the students finished up on 143-8, with Tim Groenewald (3-5) and Tom Abell (2-45) the pick of the bowlers.