Durham LV= Chester le Street 2015 Report

Day 3


Notts bowlers disappoint as Durham cruise to easy 6 wicket win

After 18 wickets had fallen on Day 2, hopes were high that Notts would break their duck for 2015 but unfortunately fortunes were turned on their head as in the morning session, Nightwatchman Wood remained intact along with opener Jennings. Durham lasting the session without loss, the pitch apparently having a personality transplant overnight.

Two wicket post lunch did little to falter Durham's march to victory as Mark Wood departed for a career best 66 beating his previous 58* (again against Notts, at TB in 2013).

Borthwick 51 and Richardson 51* ensured Durham won at a canter.

Again Nottinghamshire's bowlers have been made to look toothless in the latter stages of a game. Calls on several forums / formats have been aired for a Fletcher return. It's difficult to argue against one as another shuffle of the deck is definitely required by Mr Newell. 





Day 2

A thrilling third day is in prospect after 18 wickets fell on the second day at the Riverside. Durham made relatively untroubled progress early doors but with the score on 110 the impressive Philander bowling from the Lumley End had Michael Richardson leg before for 19.

Next over Borthwick played a poor shot to be caught at backward point off the brisk Luke Wood for 18. Things get even better in the next over as Callum McLean was caught behind second ball for a duck off Philander. 

Collingwood survived a very confident leg before off Luke Wood and added 26 runs with Mustard until Hutton got one to keep low as The Colonel was out leg before to Brett Hutton who had replaced Philander.Durham limped to lunch on 155 for seven. 

Notts swept through the tail taking three wickets for 8 runs after lunch. Collingwood was caught at second slip by Brendan Taylor off Wood for 14.Next over Philander got Hastings leg before as Mallender's smoking finger struck again. Onions lived up his Bunny nickname as he was comprehensively bowled by Wood with two stumps flying. Durham all out 163 with Notts having an unexpected healthy lead of 82. Philander, Wood and Hutton got three wickets apiece. 

The pitch was showing uneven bounce from both ends and batting was never easy. Brendan Taylor looked surprised to be given leg before in the 4th over as Onions picked up the wicket. Mullaney got to 33 off 35 balls clearly deciding that attack was the best form of defence. He then edged Rushworth to Mustard. 

Hales batted cirumspectly for his 16 and he had added 43 valuable runs with Titch. However he was bowled by one that kept low from Chris Rushworth. Patel not for the first time fell for the short ball trick as he chipped a ball from Mark Wood straight down long legs throat. Patel out for a quack 86 for 4. Tea was taken slightly early as the ball was lost under the stands. Straight after Taylor's impressive 45 came to an end as he edged Wood to Mustard, 115 for 5.

Wessels meanwhile who didn't field as had damaged his hand being caught off a no ball yesterday was once again playing well. Read got to nine before being beaten for pace by Wood bowling impressively from the Finchale End. 

Hutton as in the first innings did not fancy Wood's fast deliveries and after surviving 11 balls was bowled after playing a ugly swipe as Wood picked up for fourth wicket. Hutton gone for 1.

Collingwood came on from the Lumley End and picked up the final three wickets. Umpire Russell Evans surprised Vernon Philander by giving him leg before for 12. Wood followed the same way for 8 and then finally Gurney edged him behind for a duck as Notts were all out for 178. Wood impressive throughout took four for 39 and Collingwood three for seven. Former England man Onions was poor as his 10 overs went for 67. 

Wessels was left unbeaten on 42. Another impressive effort.On a very windy day Durham were left with 261 for victory. With two inexperienced bowlers much depends on Philander and Gurney. Philander bowling from the Lumley End had Stoneman leg before for seven as Durham closed on 15 for one off 6 overs as stumps were drawn at 1855.

This game is extremely close to call and brings back memories of Notts game at Edgbaston last season when Warwick successfully chased 289 runs for victory on a pitch which had uneven bounce from one end. The pitch this time is misbehaving from both ends as the occasional ball misbehaves. Philander to me looks a better bet than Siddle last season to take Notts over the line beating the bat throughout the day with alarming regularity. Wood expensive at times has the ability to take wickets and took out Durham's tail impressively. Notts desperately need a victory to kick start their season

Andy Carter after picking up 12 wickets for Glamorgan has gone lame once again and will be out for a month with a side strain. MAG


Day 1


Riki Wessels Rescues Notts

Under cloudy skies and after early morning rain Notts lost a crucial toss at the Riverside. Gurney came in for the lame Ball, but Notts sprung a surprise by replacing the out of form Gidman with Brett Hutton, rather than either the Metronome or the returning Carter. Durham meanwhile welcomed back Onions and Mark Wood. 

The ball was jagging around and off the eleventh ball of the innings Brendan Taylor was leg before without offering a shot to Chris Rushworth bowling from the Lumley End. The Zimbabwean gone for a duck. Hales was also leg before to Rushworth for 6, the ball moving in, 22 for 2. 

Mullaney had been struggling and in the next over he edged Onions to Mustard to depart for 15. It was a real struggle under the grey skies and a brisk south westerly wind. The fair sized crowd got more excited as with the score on 40 Titch Taylor shuffled across his stumps and was plumb leg before to Hastings for 9. Patel and Wessels added 32 until on the stroke of lunch Patel got a brutal ball from the impressive and brisk Wood. The ball moved and lifted and all Samit could do was edge the ball to Mustard to depart for 16, Notts 72 for 5. 

The conditions eased a bit after lunch, but the wickets kept tumbling, Read shouldered arms to ball from Rushworth that came back on him and he was bowled for 2, 91 for 6. Wood was generating a lot of pace from the Finchale End and Hutton was struggling and he eventually edged to Mustard to depart for 3, 102 for seven. Philander joined Wessels who was playing a largely untroubled innings. The ball was getting older and although Philander offered two difficult chances, 110 invaluable runs were added for the eighth wicket in 32 overs. Philander eventually edged Hastings to second slip to depart for 41. Wood only lasted seven balls before falling to catch behind by Mustard off Hastings. Wessels was in imperious form and reached his ton off 153 balls and he was now going for his shots. After getting to 117 he pulled the ball to long leg where Hastings pulled off an astonishing one handed catch Onions being the bowler. Wessels 117 came off 168 balls with 17 fours. Without this innings Notts would have been in a perilous position but 245 all out kept them in the game. Hastings and Rushworth both took three wickets. 

Early into Durhams reply the dark clouds disappeared as the blue skies and the sun finally appeared. Philander had a couple of early shouts for leg before turned down as Stoneman and Jennings added 65 in 14 overs. Notts though struck back with three wickets in the evening sunshine. Firstly Hutton got Stoneman out leg before for 44. Three balls later Gurney bowling from the Finchale End had Jennings edging to Read for 18. Finally in the last over of the day a ball from Hutton kept low with night watchman Wood plumb leg before departing for 1. Durham closing on 69 for three. Notts will be hoping to make early inroads tomorrow morning after a day dominated by the seamers and Wessels excellent innings.MAG

Preview

The Nottinghamshire squad for the Durham Championship match, starting Sunday, has been announced. Returning from England ODI duty are James Taylor and Alex Hales. Returning from Glamorgan is Andy Carter and he is added to the squad that drew at Southampton; the whole squad being retained except for injured Jake Ball (hand).

Andy Carter, 
Luke Fletcher, 
Will Gidman, 
Harry Gurney, 
Alex Hales, 
Brett Hutton, 
Steven Mullaney, 
Samit Patel, 
Vernon Philander, 
Chris Read, 
Brendan Taylor, 
James Taylor, 
Riki Wessels 
Luke Wood.