Seconds v Durham 2s SEC at Riverside, Chester le Street Draw

Day 4

TB.co.uk

Nottinghamshire’s rain affected Second XI Championship fixture against Durham ebbed to a foreseeable draw on the final day at Emirates Riverside despite a bludgeoning performance with the bat from Joey Evison and Sol Budinger.

Evison amassed 91 from 103 balls and put on a century partnership with Budinger, who himself clubbed 70 from 46 balls as Notts declared 174 runs ahead, needing 10 wickets within two sessions for a victory by an innings.   

In a bid to do so, the visitors managed three wickets, but Sean Dickson (103*) provided resistance for Durham during the 30 overs of play possible to secure a draw.

Resuming the fourth day on 101 for the loss of one wicket, Matthew Montgomery could only add nine to his overnight half-century before edging Matt Potts behind.

It brought the powerful Budinger to the crease, who set to task straight away. The right-hander accelerated at a run-a-ball from the outset and rotated well with Evison who himself tucked into some loose bowling.

Budinger brought up his half-century from 34 balls, before fizzing to Paul Coughlin at mind-on to bring to the end an innings which included 11 fours and two sixes.

Evison battled on, dominating the strike as Peter Trego, Ben Wilcox and Calvin Harrison all fell leg before and Dane Schadendorf edged to fly-slip.

By the time Evison was caught at long-on, he had hit 13 fours and two sixes to put Notts on 302, in a position of strength.

Rain forced the sides off before the Green and Golds were able to find a breakthrough in response, and an early tea made the possibility of a win all the more unlikely.

Toby Pettman and Tom Barber struck in consecutive overs to give a glimmer of hope to Nottinghamshire, the former trapping Clarke in front before Barber found a gap through Michael Jones defences to flatten the stumps.

In the time remaining James Hayes jagged a delivery through Jonathan Bushnell for his first wicket of the game, but the writing was on the wall for the sides who shook hands at six o’clock, Notts bringing six bonus points back down the M1.

Day 3 

trentbridge.co.uk

Matthew Montgomery set out stall with a well-paced half-century to put Notts in the ascendency on day three at Emirates Riverside after a bowling masterclass from Zak Chappell and Joey Evison tore through Durham.

Only 9.3 overs were possible through the first two days, but the seamers set to task when they were able, taking four wickets apiece to restrict the hosts to 128 all out

In reply, Montgomery crashed eight fours in his unbeaten 58, leaving the visitors in the ascendency at 101 for one, albeit with little time left in the game.

It took Notts just four overs to add to the wickets column after Durham resumed on 27 for two, Chappell claiming his third from an inswinger which trapped Sean Dickson in front.

Former Green and Gold Paul Coughlin was the next man in, but couldn’t force a score against his old side, pinned leg before trying to turn a Peter Trego delivery to the leg side for 6, before Alex Thompson (3) went an over later, the victim of a sharp delivery from Chappell which jagged through bat and pad to hammer the stumps.

Jonathan Bushnell (28) and Liam Trevaskis provided some resistance for Durham, adding 28 for the sixth wicket, before Evison found the edge of the former and the ball found solace in the left hand of Ben Compton at second slip after rebounding off Sol Budinger with the score on 60.

Evison struck three more times to confine the home side, first inducing a thin edge from Trevaskis (29) through to Dane Shadendorf, then striking the front pad of Tom Mackintosh (0) with his next ball, before clean bowling Matt Salisbury (6) for his fourth wicket.

Tom Barber wrapped up the innings by flattening Oliver Gibson’s off stump for none, ending a successful day in the field for the visitors.

Openers Montgomery and Ben Compton set about positively in response, taking 15 from the opening two overs to set the tone. When Compton was caught by wicketkeeper Mackintosh off the bowling of Salisbury for an enterprising 24 which included 4 fours, Notts were on 74.

No more damage was done in the remaining seven overs, man of the moment Evison partnering Montgomery as the pair rotating well to leave Nottinghamshire neatly positioned ahead of day four.

Day 2

No play at all

Day 1 

Weather (bad light and rain) interrupted the first morning, Durham lunched on 27/2, both wicket taken by Zak Chappell.

That was all the play possible on typical Bank Holiday Monday.