Durham LV= Championship at Riverside Chester le Street Draw

Day 4

NOTTS FINISH TOP OF GROUP 1

Notts finished top of the Group 1 table following an anti climatic draw at Chester-le-Street today. With the sun out for long periods, the pitch had dried out and with blue skies overhead the ball did not swing for the Notts bowlers. The loss of the second day due to rain proved pivotal. Notts started off tentatively this morning but then went for quick runs on the slow low wicket, Borthwick helped himself to 4 easy wickets as Notts were 217 all out with Hameed top scoring on 58. Set an unlikely 381 off 71 overs, Durham got off to a reasonably fast start aided by some scruffy wicket keeping from locum Joe Clarke as 20 byes were conceded. Notts though kept chipping away and the introduction of Mullaney after tea slowed Durham down as 22 overs were bowled in an hour.

Notts started very slowly against Rushworth (Lumley End)and Potts (Finchale End). Mullaney broke the shackles by hoisting Rushworth for a leg side six, but fell next over bowled by Potts by 21, 151 for six in the 52nd over. Next over Raine replaced Rushworth. Salisbury came on the 56th over and Evison (13) hit him for a legside four. Next ball Evison (19) hit a ball from Salisbury straight to Raine at extra cover, 161 for 7. Hutton hit Raine for an off side four and then Borthwick came on from the Finchale End in the 59th over with Hutton lofted him for 4 over mid wicket. Hutton hit Borthwick for consecutive fours in the 61st over. Patterson-White hit successive fours off Salisbury. Hutton (22) was bowled middle stump attempting a sweep shot off Borthwick, 196 for 8 in the 63rd over. Patterson-White skied Borthwick to Raine at mid off, 201 for 9. Fletcher hoisted Salisbury for six over long on. Broad (9) hit Borthwick for 6 over long on, but then skied the leg spinner back into his hands. Notts 217 all out off 64.3 overs Fletcher 8 not out. Borthwick 4 for 32 had picked up some cheap wickets as the Notts batsmen went over the top.

Durham needed 381 off 71 overs and had 20 minutes to bat before lunch. Broad (Finchale End) conceded 11 off the opening over including 4 byes and 2 no balls. Fletcher shared the new ball. Durham 18 for 0 off 5 overs with Bancroft on 8 and Jones on 4.

Hutton replaced Broad straight after lunch but Bancroft and Jones looked comfortable. Broad swapped ends and came on from the Lumley End for the 14th over as the Durham openers reached 50. Broad finally made the breakthrough when a delivery kept very low and had Bancroft leg before for 22, 55 for one in the 16th over. Jones was dropped on 23 by Clarke standing up to Hutton. Evison replaced the expensive Hutton (6 overs for 30) in the 19th over. Three overs later Patterson-White replaced Broad. James came on in the 27th over. Borthwick hit Patterson-White for 3 boundaries in the 28th over as Durham went passed 100. James made the breakthrough having Borthwick caught behind by Clarke for 25, 112 for 2 in the 29thi over. Bedingham hit James for three fours in one over as the runs continued to flow. On the stroke of tea Patterson-White bowled Jones for 46, 136 for 3 off 33.4 overs. This proved to be the end of the match as a contest.

Mullaney came on straight after tea from the Finchale End and tied Durham down bowling nine overs for 16. Next over Bedingham hit Patterson-White for a straight six. Durham reached 150 in the 38th over via a straight six by Dickson off Patterson-White. Mullaney picked up the 4th wicket as another very low ball bowled Bedingham for 36, 174 for 4. Slater came on with 2 overs of flighted from the FinchaleEnd as elbows were pumped at 1700 hours with Durham 188 for 4 with Dickson on 28 and Burnham on 5.

Should have Notts enforced the follow on? We shall never know whether they would have ripped through Durham last night. But the sun did appear between innings yesterday and batting appeared to get easier as the pitch dried and the ball did not swing. Notts winless after three games, against all odds topped the section. A very commendable effort, shame we take Warwickshire with us who doubled us, Notts needlessly losing the game at Edgbaston chasing a near impossible target. MAG

Day 3

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED BY NOTTS

as Durham's plan is unravelled by Evison

It was a case of mission accomplished for Notts today as they secured their place in the First Division of the championship on a day where 16 wickets fell at the Riverside. Notts added 16 runs to their overnight total and then bowled superbly to restrict Durham to 165 all out on a slow low pitch where application was the name of the game. Leading the way was 19 year old, Joey Evison who was brought on straight after lunch from the Finchale End in one 8 over spell took a career best 5 for 21 including 2 leg before decisions and 2 catches behind the wicket to rip out the Durham middle order, His first victim was run machine David Bedingham leg before for 30. Earlier Stuart Broad had removed both openers via leg before decisions to the Trigger Happy umpire Neil Pratt. Durham were well short of the 250 they required to prevent Notts from securing a top flight place in September. Notts with a lead of 163 elected to bat again as the sun appeared after tea. They got to 85 for 1 and then a late collapse saw them lose 4 wickets for 36 runs late on. Hameed bowled for 58 by leg spinner Scott Borthwick. But with the wicket never easy to bat on, a lead of 288 plus an hours batting tomorrow should ensure they do not lose this fixture. Throughout the game batsmen have been dismissed either leg before or bowled as the odd ball misbehaves.

Play commenced on time on a dank morning with the floodlights on. Patterson-White and Fletcher (17 not out) added a further 16 runs against Rushworth (Lumley End) and Raine (Finchale End). In the fifth over of the morning,Patterson-White (73) was bowled by Rushworth to a ball that kept low. Patterson-White had equalled his career best, having scored an unbeaten 73 versus Warwickshire at Trent Bridge earlier this year. Notts 328 all out off 100.2 overs. Rushworth 4 for 75 and Raine 3 for 63 were the stand out bowlers

Bancroft fell to the third ball of the reply leg before to Broad (Finchale End), 0 for 1, a somewhat questionable decision. In the 7th over, Broad had Jones leg before for 5, 13 for 2. After 6 overs and figures of 2 for 15, Broad made way for Lyndon James. Hutton came on the following over. Borthwick and Bedingham steadied the ship and the 50 came up in the 18th over via 4 byes off Hutton. At lunch Durham were 75 for 2 with Borthwick on 32 and Bedingham on 26. An interesting afternoon was in prospect.

A captaincy masterstroke saw Evison somewhat surprising given the ball straight after the interval. After hitting the youngster for a leg side 4 in Evison's opening over, Bedlingham (30) fell next ball as umpire Pratt gave his third leg before of the innings, 77 for 3.Broad now bowling from the Lumley End bowled the following over. Sean Dickson (0) top edged a pull shot off Evison and was caught by keeper Clarke in front of second slip, 85 for 4. In his next over, Evison had Borthwick (38) caught by Hutton, low down at second slip, 86 for 5. Eckersley was dropped on 0 by Clarke diving to his left but next ball he fell leg before to Evison who appealed on the floor having fallen over in his follow through, 86 for six. A couple of fours behind the wicket by Burnham off Broad saw Durham to 100 in the 34th over. A terrible shot from Raine (12), saw him caught at deep square leg by James, a five wicket bag for Evison, 116 for 7. Evison had changed the course of the game. In the 37th over. Hutton replaced Evison from the Finchale End. Burnham and Potts added 22 before the former was bowled for 23 shouldering arms to Fletcher for 23, 138 for 8 in the 46th over, the first wicket in the innings from the Lumley End. Patterson-White came on the 52nd over and picked up a wicket with his second ball having Salisbury (4) caught by the diving Hutton at short extra cover, 150 for 9. Patterson-White went for 13 in an over including 4 byes past keeper Clarke who missed the stumping chance. Broad returned and removed Rushworth with his first ball, caught by Slater. Durham 165 all out in 54.1 overs. Potts 27 not out. Evison with a career best 8 2 21 5 in one outstanding spell straight after lunch, Broad 3 for 36. Tea was taken between the innings with Mullaney deciding not to enforce the follow-on with a lead of 163 and with 42 overs left in the day.

The sun made a belated appearance as Notts got off to a solid start against Rushworth (Lumley End) and Potts (Finchale End). Raine replaced Potts in the 8th over. In the 11th over, Potts replaced Rushworth. In his second over of his new spell, Potts had Slater (19) caught behind by Eckersley, 44 for one. In the 16th over, Matt Salisbury had a bowl. Compton was fed a few legside deliveries which he tucked into, but departed caught low down at backward point by Jones off Salisbury for a career best 20, 85 for 2. Notts were somewhat bogged down scoring 1 run off 6 overs. Rushworth came on from the Finchale End and Clarke straight drove his first ball for 4 and then then cut him for 4. Notts reached the 100 in the 30th over as Clarke found the point ropes off Rushworth. Clarke (16) edged a ball from Potts on to his pads which ballooned to Bancroft in the gulley who took the catch, 110 for 3. Hameed got to his 50 off 100 balls with a leg side four off Rushworth which went straight through Jones at square leg. James lost his off stump to Salisbury to depart for a duck,115 for 4 in the 38th over. Borthwick came on and in his second over had Hameed bowled for 58, 121 for 5. Notts added a further 5 runs as stumps were drawn at 1918 with Notts 125 for 5 off 42 overs with Evison on 4 and Mullaney on 0.

Notts will be looking to bat for an hour tomorrow to set Durham a challenging target. MAG

Day 2

12.00

No play before lunch at Chester le Street, but play has resumed at Worcester where Warwickshire have already added to their points accumilation.

15.00

The only thing now accumilating at Chester le Street is the rainfall, with play now highly doubtful on Day 2.

16.00

Pressure mounting on Durham as the whole of day 2 is condemned.

Day 1

TEAMS LEVEL ON POINTS AFTER DAY ONE, BUT DURHAM UNDER PRESSURE?

It is advantage Notts at the end of the first day after they were put in on a slow low pitch at the Riverside . The boundary ropes had been brought in to make a very small playing area. Notts were without Duckett and Moores but Clarke came back in after his covid isolation. Paterson was rested as Broad returned to the eleven. Notts lost Hameed early on to Rushworth who along with Raine were stand out performers in a disciplined effort from the home bowlers. Notts though battled hard with Slater scoring 60, Clarke 48, Mullaney 39 and at the end Patterson-White who survived a confident leg before shout early doors with a mature 66 not out off 103 balls (11x4).

Rushworth (Lumley End) and Potts (Finchale End) opened the bowling on a sunny morning in front of a crowd of 800 with a sizeable away contingent . In the 7th over, Hameed (12) playing down the wrong line, lost his off stump to Rushworth, 15 for 1. Salisbury came on the 11th over. Raine replaced Potts in the 14th over. Notts innings was grinding to a halt 8 runs came from 8 overs. A four from Slater off the returning Potts saw Notts to 50 in the 23rd over. Rushworth returned in the 25th over and with his third ball had Compton caught at second slip by Borthwick for 16, 59 for 2. Compton had batted 53 balls and lasted 18 overs. Notts were 69 for 2 at lunch with Slater on 31 and Clarke on 4. An even morning session.

After a sunny morning, dark clouds hovered after lunch, Slater got to his 50 off 106 balls with a cover drive off Rushworth as the floodlights came on. The 50 partnership between Slater and Clarke came up via a single for Clarke off Potts (Finchale End). Both batsman looked settled and it came as a surprise when Slater (60) lost his middle stump to Raine, 130 for 3 off 43 overs. Slater had laid a solid foundation.

A cover driven for 4 by James off Salisbury brought up the Notts 150 in the 49th over. Two overs later, Clarke (48) chopped Salisbury onto his stumps, 153 for 4. Borthwick came on from Lumley End and conceded 10 off his first over including a straight six by Mullaney. James trying to hit the ball through mid wicket was yorked by Raine for 16, 171 for 5 in the 58th over. Borthwick went for nine in his second over, so he was replaced by Matty Potts. Notts 185 for 5 off 64 overs at tea with Mullaney on 13 and Patterson-White on 8.

Notts were to take command in the last session. They got to their first batting point via a long leg boundary for Mullaney off Rushworth. Mullaney pulled the returning Salisbury for a leg side four to bring up the 50 partnership with Patterson-White in 77 balls. A loose shot from Mullaney (39) saw him edge Raine to keeper Eckersley, 228 for 6 after 74 overs. A straight driven four by Patterson-White off Salisbury brought the Notts 250 in the 79th over. The new ball was taken with Notts 255 for 6 off 80 overs and with his second ball Rushworth had Evison leg before for 8, Patterson-White got to his 50 off 70 balls with a single off Potts. Hutton was leg before to Potts for 8, 276 for 8 in the 88th over. Notts got to 300 with 4 byes off Salisbury but Broad (9) departed next ball to Salisbury caught by Potts at mid off, 301 for nine in the 93rd over. Stumps were drawn at 1833 with Notts on 312 for 9 off 96 overs with Patterson-White on 66 and Fletcher on 9.

Rain is forecast tomorrow which adds pressure on Durham who have to win the fixture and also take two more bonus points than Notts. MAG

Fun Stat

The Notts v Derbyshire fixture just completed at Trent Bridge was the first time in 55 Notts first-class matches that a six was not hit. The previous occurrence was at the Riverside, Chester-le-Street between 14 and 17 April 2017, when Notts won the contest by nine wickets. MAG

It would seem that Stuart Broad has been made available by his Lords and Masters the ECB and has been included in Peter's squad of thirteen. Thirteen that also includes back out of isolation, Joe Clarke.

Peter's XIII

Haseeb Hameed

Ben Slater

Joe Clarke X

Steven Mullaney C

Lyndon James

Joey Evison

Tom Moores

Liam Patterson-White

Stuart Broad

Brett Hutton

Luke Fletcher

Dane Paterson

Ben Compton