Durham CC2 at Chester le Street

NOTTS EASE TO VICTORY

Notts cruised to an easy nine wicket victory at the Riverside today. Durham added 49 runs this morning for the loss of their final three wickets and then Notts knocked off the 108 required in 26.2 overs. This was an excellent win for Notts against the strongest bowling attack they are likely to face this season. It was Durham's first championship defeat at the Riverside since 2015.

Pattinson (Lumley) and Ball (Finchale) opened up and early doors Mark Wood on 2 was badly dropped low down at mid wicket by Libby off Ball. This drop proved costly as the eighth wicket added 45 when Fletcher who was replaced Ball had Wood (19) pulling to mid wicket this time Libby holding the chance, 244 for eight. The end of the innings came quickly Bunny Onions was comprehensively bowled by Gurney for 2. Chris Rushworth tried to run two off his first ball. However Ball was fast at picking up the ball and an exocet of a throw saw Rushworth run out for 1, a great piece of fielding. Durham 250 all out with the superb Keaton Jennings carrying his bat for 102 off 207 balls with 16 fours. Notts had once again bowled well on what now what was a flat pitch; the wickets being spread around. Pick of the bowlers were Pattinson and Ball who both bowled with plenty of pace and fire.

Notts got to lunch safely on 43 for 0 off 12 overs with Smith on 26 and Libby on 16. The good work carried on after the interval as the early morning sunshine was replaced by a dank cold sky with the floodlights now on. Durham's heads had dropped long before

Coughlin Yorked Jake Libby for 39 (77 balls with four fours). The first wicket had added 93. Patel came in once more at three, as Greg Smith finished the game with a legside four of Coughlin. His 60 not out off 72 balls with nine fours was a championship best for Notts. Notts bowling had more depth than Durham and Luke Fletcher's 92 as night watchman gained Notts the upper hand in the game they never relinquished. Notts probably need a further six or seven wins to secure promotion.. MAG

Dave Bracegirdle reports that at 3.15 a cloud burst had saturated the outfield, luckily Notts had got the game done and dusted a short while earlier.

RAIN SPOILS THE DAY AS JENNINGS BATS ON

A very frustrating dsy in the north east with only 69 balls possible. Early Morning drizzle delayed play until 1225 but in the only second over Ryan Pringle played all around a well pitched up delivery from Jake Ball to be bowled for two, 162 for six. Jennings and Poynter added 37 runs for the seventh wicket. Gurney who replaced Pattinson from the Lumley End then got a ball to swing into the Irishman who was bowled for 17 off 28 balls. Shortly afterwards the players went off for lunch at 1316. Durham 201 for 7 Jennings 82 not out Wood 0 not out. Left hander Jennings has batted very well and his innings has been the most comfortable of the match having faced 163 balls with 14 fours.

Although initially the weather forecast indicated the rain to disperse about 1500 this was not the case and the rain never really ceased until play was abandoned for the day at 1715. With heavy showers forecast tomorrow afternoon Notts now could face a race against time to get a positive result, Durham lead by 58 with three wickets left. The new ball is still 21.3 overs away. MAG
NIGHT WATCHMAN FLETCHER FALLS JUST SHORT OF TON

On a wicket getting slower and lower Durham closed with a lead 19 with five second innings standing. The hero on a long day of 104.1 overs was Luke Fletcher who equalled his previous career best of 92 before unluckily being run out. Danger man Keaton Jennings was still there unbeaten at the close on 62. Under the new championship regulations, time lost on day 1 can be made on days 2 and 3 up to a maximum of 30 minutes (8 overs) a day.

Play got under way in bright sunshine but windy conditions this morning but as so often happens Patel was out almost immediately. On the seventh ball of the morning he edged Rushworth to Collingwood at slip, delaying his departure to check the ball had carried. Patel had made 45 off 79 balls with eight fours, 98 for five. Night watchman Fletcher was batting well with a straight bat and 30 were added in 11 overs. Wessels though looked out of sorts it was no surprise when fell leg before to Wood for 8 (33 balls with one edged four through the slips). Read hit a bright and breezy 17 off 28 balls with three fours but Coughlin who replaced Wood from the Lumley End bowled him with his second ball of his new spell, 156 for seven. Fletcher found another able partner in Pattinson. The left hander got four leg byes down the legside the bowler being Coughlin. The scorecard as entertaining as ever at The Riverside, got completely lost, Fletcher got to his 50 three times over 10 minutes, only in the latter case correctly. The BulwellIan had though been keeping his own score and celebrated his half ton off 90 balls. Notts got to lunch on 193 for seven with Fletcher 51 and Pattinson on 13. Notts had scored 93 runs for the loss of three wickets in the session. Fletcher had played with a straight bat as the home attack had struggled somewhat with the brisk crosswind.

Fletcher and Pattinson carried on the good work after lunch. Pattinson was dropped, a sharp chance to Pringle at second slip when on 23 but generally batting was getting easier against the older ball. Fletcher had to change bats at 63 following a ball that reared up from Mark Wood. Fletcher took a liking to Pringle, he then equalled his highest of 92 made against Hampshire at The Rose Bowl. Collingwood brought himself on in desperation with the new ball imminent. Pattinson pushed his first ball to point, but the Victorian decided against the single, Fletch was stranded mid pitch on the floor he took an age to get up and was run out by a smart throw from Jennings for 92. What an innings he left to a standing ovation from the 1,000 strong crowd. An innings of great patience with 13 fours off 153 balls. The regime of Moores and Franks appears to have proved a fillip to his career. Pattinson and Fletcher had added 108 priceless tuns in 28 overs. But the fun hadn't ceased as Pattinson and Ball carried on the good work. Pattinson was struck on the helmet by a ball that got up from Wood and there was a stoppage as he received treatment. The partnership added 37 in seven overs before Pattinson skied a ball from Onions behind the wicket as keeper took a running catch at fine.leg. Pattinson 59 off 100 balls with nine fours. Ball top edged the last ball of the over for four. Gurney lasted three balls being bowled by Rushworth. Notts 305 all out with Ball 21 not out, a lead of 143 runs. Rushworth the pick of the bowlers with four for 54.

Durham had 47 overs to bat. Cook having a poor debut lasted five balls before departing for a duck edging Ball with Wessels taking a good catch low to his right. Burnham (4) lasted five balls before becoming Ball's second victim as he nervously edged the ball into Read's gloves, eight for two. Ball after a four over spell from the Finchale End was replaced by Fletch and with his ninth ball had Richardson leg before for eight, 24 for three. The wicket was getting flatter Jennings and Collingwood added 71 for the fourth wicket. Collingwood was extremely fortunate to survive a leg before shout as Pattinson returned from the Lumley End, Pattinson gave a long and prolonged appeal but umpire Hartley said no. Pattinson got his revenge next over when Collingwood (40) edged him as Wessels took a stupendous catch leaping like a salmon to take the catch above his head as ball travelled at express speed, 95 for four. Jennings and Coughlin then added 52 in 12 overs, the latter scoring 36 off 37 balls as Patel had a twirl. Pattinson returned with six overs to go and removed Coughlin leg before, umpire Hartley this time raising the finger, 147 for five.

Jennings and Pringle ensured there were no more mishaps as Durham closed on 162 for five. On an easing pitch Notts seamers Gurney apart had bowled a good line and worked very hard to get the wickets. Pattinson looked once again a fine aquiston. Ball opening spell was outstanding MAG

NOTTS EDGE DAY ONE AT THE RIVERSIDE

It was Notts day at the Riverside, despite a Durham last wicket stand of 52 they bowled the hosts out for 162 and trailed by 66 runs at the premature close with six wickets standing. Ball replaced Broad from the Grace Road line up. 

Meanwhile Durham were playing their first championship game of the season still seething over their unjust severe punishment for financial irregularities. Notts inserted Durham so no toss was required.

Play got under way on time in front of a good sized crowd. Admission was £5 for adults and children were admitted for free. Ball (Lumley) and Pattinson (Finchale) opened the bowling. Off the 17th ball of the innings South African opener Stephen Cook (2) edged Ball into Read's gloves, six for one. Rain interrupted proceedings shortly after at 1115 with Durham 10 for one after 3.4 overs. Play resumed after an eighteen minute stoppage and Gurney replaced Pattinson . Unfortunately the left armer was erratic both in terms of length and line and with Ball not making the batsman play enough the new ball was being wasted. The Metronome replaced Gurney and showed the benefits of length and line straight away as Burnham (15) shouldered arms to his sixth delivery and lost his off stump, 47 for two. Patto Junior came on for Ball and in his fourth over of his second spell bowled a peach to Jennings (28) the ball moving on and removing the left handers off stump, 55 for three. Next over Fletcher found Richardson's edge of the bat , as Greg Smith took the catch at third slip, 55 for four. The right hander out for five. Durham added a further 13 runs in the final 20 balls before lunch as they stood at 68 for four off 25 overs with Collingwood 8 not out and Coughlin 2 not out.

Twelve minutes after lunch Ball had Collingwood (8) pinned against his stumps and the umpire Wharf raised the finger. Next ball Pringle went first ball caught by the captain, 69 for six. Poynter survived the hat trick ball. Off the second ball of the next over Coughlin (3) edged to Read as Gurney picked up his first wicket. Three wickets had fallen for two runs in seven balls. Poynter and Wood added 33 in seven overs. James Pattinson returned from the Lumley End and with his third ball had Mark Wood (11) playing all round one and he became the second leg before decision of the innings. Onions (2) had his stumps demolished by Pattinson, Durham 110 for 9. Durham though fought back as Poynter went for his shots, Read kept on the disappointing Gurney too long and the field settings were far too defensive. The Irishman stumper raced to 50 off 46 balls with Wessels now fielding at back stop. Read turned to the accurate Fletcher who bowled Poynter for 65 (59 balls with 12 fours). Durham had been inserted in tricky conditions 162 all out, the last wicket had added an invaluable 52 in 43 balls. Pattinson, Ball and Fletcher had all picked up three wickets apiece and all had bowled well. Pattinson and Ball had bowled with pace and Fletcher got his reward for bowling line and length. Gurney was disappointing with figures of one for 50 off 13 overs.

Notts got off to a disastrous start, Greg Smith (4) looked all at sea lasting 14 balls before edging Onions to slip. Libby (3) followed the very next ball bowled neck and crop by Rushworth, seven for two. Hales was plumb leg before five balls later to Rushworth for a duck. Lumb and Patel had a few hairy moments but Notts got to tea at 1600 on 36 for three with Patel 16 not out and Lumb 9 not out, 39 overs remained.

Notts batted for further 14 overs after tea and apart from one edged four through the slips by Lumb they looked in no real trouble. With the floodlights shining bright in the gloomy sky it was no surprise that umpires Wharf and Hartley took the players off at 1717. Notts 85 for theee with Lumb on 28 and Patel batting really well on 40 not out. With he sun reappearing belatedly play resumed at 1835 with eight overs remaining; clearly a situation suiting the home side. With the last ball of the third over after resumption a well pitched ball from Wood kept low and Lumb was palpably leg before for 33, 92 for four. Fletch came in as night watchman but the light was deteriorating once more and only a further 11 balls were bowled and four runs added as Notts closed on 96 for four with Patel on 43 and Fletcher on three. MAG

Andrew Strauss has made it clear to Notts that Stuart Broad can't play in this round of games but Jake Ball can. I'd expect in that case a straight swap, as no one is knocking on the door from the fitness room. Luke Wood, Brendan Taylor and Steven Mullaney haven't taken part in any of the proceedings at Lady Bay this week, unlike Jake Ball who sent down ten overs in two spells on Monday.

now confirmed squad:

Jake Libby
Greg Smith
Michael Lumb
Alex Hales
Riki Wessels
Samit Patel
Chris Read
James Pattinson
Luke Fletcher
Jake Ball
Harry Gurney

Brett Hutton