Durham step closer to Victory

Durham are strong favourites to win today having a lead of 341 runs with three second innings left. Given their cautious approach to batting late last night they may even bat briefly today; but if Onions shows any of the form he showed on Thursday they should win the game comfortably. Durham had 35 runs to their overnight score when Smith on 15 edged Fletcher to Read. The two left handers Stoneman and Jennings added 74 in 20 overs before the latter was leg before to the accurate Phillips for 31. But Notts attack in general was pedestrian and Carter spent too much time bowling too short too often. Stoneman reached his ton off 137 runs with 14 fours as Durham were now reaching an unassailable position. Stoneman was then dropped twice in successive overs. Firstly he was badly dropped by Hales at deep square leg sweeping Graeme White whilst on 107. Then he pulled Phillips to long leg where Franks put down another sitter palming the ball over the boundary for six. The next ball kept low and Stoneman departed leg before to Phillips for 114; 185 for three. The sky was now getting darker by the minute and the floodlights were now on as Durham’s scoring rate was now reduced to a trickle; Mustard was out to the last ball before the rain stoppage, being caught behind off Carter for 21; 193 for four. The heavy rain did not last as long as the forecasters predicted and the players returned at 1620 with 10 overs lost. Benkenstein and Collingwood added 32 in 11 overs, before the former was caught in gully off Fletcher for 19. Borthwick was next to go bowled through the gate by White for 4, 236 for six. Collingwood and Wood frustrated Notts adding 61 in no hurry off 23 overs; as the new ball was taken two overs late. Just before the close in the 97th over, Wood (30) edged Fletcher to Read as Collingwood was left unbeaten on 51 off 113 balls. Durham closed on 301 for seven. Fletcher picked up another three wickets; he has now six in the match.

A good day for Yorkshire yesterday; the Division two could pivot on if Sheep survive the follow-on today or not; David Wainwright, ex-Tyke, their main obstacle to a White Rose win.
At the KP and Onion -free Test, Jonny Bairstow on a salvage mission, 72 not out at the close.



England U19s had an easy 127 run win over Nepal, both Wood and Hutton played.

Day Four

Not content with being in a winning position, Durham bat-on on the fourth morning.

Six and out again, this time Collingwood bowled White, the lead 354 and Durham use their twelfth batsman of the game, Bunny Onions, is he looking for a career best score with his batting too, 41 to beat?

No, it appears the un-getable target had to be 365, Durham 325/8 dec