Durham v Lancashire, Rothesay CC, Chester-le-Street - Days 1-4

Report by Thomas Ridley on behalf of the ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay

Emilio Gay and David Bedingham scored sublime unbeaten centuries in a record-breaking third-wicket partnership of 290 as Durham successfully chased 336 to beat Lancashire by eight wickets in their Rothesay County Championship Division Two match.

Durham had a challenging start as they lost both openers in the morning session, but Gay and Bedingham led a recovery for the hosts as the runs started to flow before lunch.

As the ball got softer and the sun came out during the afternoon session, batting became easier for Gay and Bedingham and their partnership went from strength to strength, as they broke their side’s record for the highest third wicket stand against Lancashire.

Both made centuries and the hosts chased down an imposing target with ease as Durham reached 336 for two, handing the North East county a second win of the season.

After being 124 for seven in their first innings and heading for a hefty first innings deficit, the partnership cemented an excellent turnaround for the hosts, with the efforts of Matthew Potts also key to that.

The victory takes them up to second, three points behind Lancashire, who remain top, but Durham have played one game fewer.

Lancashire head coach Steven Croft said:

"We obviously wanted to make some inroads and we knew that was going to be an important part of the day. The lesson we've learnt as a team is they had two batters, they had the opportunity and they made it really count."

"Over the three previous games, we've left runs out there and not really been ruthless, we sort of marked it down. We've come up against a good side, we got 370, but I still feel we should have got north of 400, 450. And then with the ball as well, if we take our chances we maybe bowl them out for 50 less."

"Obviously we came into this game full of confidence and even yesterday we felt like we were flying. It's been a busy two weeks as well with the three bad injuries too. There's been a lot of toing and froing squad wise, but that's why we do have a squad. It hasn't been easy."

Day 3: Durham 295 (Matthew Potts 66, Tom Bailey 3-68) v Lancashire 370 (Marcus Harris 135 not out, Ben Raine 4-77) & 260-9 dec (Paul Coughlin 100 not out, Michael Jones 72, Ben Raine 3-50, Matty Potts 3-57).Durham require 336 to win.

Paul Coughlin came back to haunt his former county Durham, as he hit his second First Class century to put his side in the ascendency on the third day of their Rothesay County Championship fixture.

Lancashire came into the day on top, holding a first innings lead of 75 after bowling Durham out for 295 on day two, but they were left reeling after Matthew Potts blew away their top order to leave them 72 for six.

However, a partnership of 131 between Michael Jones and Coughlin halted the slide for the Red Rose, as they both passed fifty and built a big lead for the visitors.

Jones fell after tea but Coughlin notched three figures for the first time in a Lancashire shirt and they declared on 260 for nine, setting Durham a target of 336 to win.

Lancashire centurion Paul Coughlin said: 
"It does feel pretty special, but I think the main thing is, we're in a position now where we can really push for a win.

"We've looked at the game, we think the new ball's a key period of the game. I think everyone watching can kind of see, it gets to the 40 over mark and it gets easier to score.

"Jonesy who I know really well. We were in the middle together and we just took it ball by ball and all of a sudden the momentum changes when the wicket goes flat or the ball goes soft.

"We're in a position now where we can really push it forward in our favour."

Day 2: Durham 295 (Matthew Potts 66, Tom Bailey 3-68) v Lancashire 370 (Marcus Harris 135 not out, Ben Raine 4-77)

Matthew Potts led a lower order fightback from Durham as they defied a brilliant bowling effort from James Anderson and Lancashire on day two of their Rothesay County Championship clash.

Potts and Ben Raine cleaned up Lancashire’s tail with minimum fuss in the morning, as Durham bowled Lancashire out for 370. However, the hosts’ batting line up struggled to click into gear during the early stages of their reply, with Anderson’s early double blow handing Lancashire the initiative.

Tom Bailey took two poles in the afternoon to put the visitors in cruise control, but Potts’ fifth First Class half-century along with defiant knocks from Raine and Callum Parkinson led a fightback and helped Durham reach 295 all out, a first innings deficit of 75.

Durham were rocked by the loss of Sam Conners in the morning, after he pulled out of the game with an abdominal injury and he was replaced by Minto.

Lancashire head coach Steven Croft said

"We've sort of got what we wanted with a first innings lead, we'd have liked that to have been a lot bigger, but I think the bowlers stuck at it really well."

"A 100 plus day would have been a really good day for us but it is what it is and we extend that with the bat tomorrow hopefully."

"The pitch seems to have got slightly slower, a little bit flatter. They had the heavy roller on it this morning, hopefully it stays like that for another day and then maybe get a bit of variable bounce. It seemed tough work for the seamers once the new ball wore away."

(On injury replacement) "Arav has fractured his thumb, we send our regards to Arav. It's a bad blow for him. Our spinning all rounder went down, we requested our next spinning all rounder to come in which got denied. Ultimately we're a bowler down in the game, George Bell comes into the game, but it's a tough one to take really. I know there's a loose like-for-like tag to it, but it's gone on a bit of Tom's (Hartley) Test experience from two years earlier. You see the other ones around the country, there doesn't seem to be a consistent theme running through it."

Day 1: Durham v Lancashire 356-7 (Marcus Harris 135 not out, Ben Raine 3-71)

Marcus Harris’ second century of the season for Lancashire defied Durham’s pursuit for wickets on an enthralling first day of their Rothesay County Championship Division Two clash. 

An evenly-matched morning session was played out between the two, as Durham took three Lancashire scalps despite a series of dropped catches, with Harris one of the beneficiaries. 

The Australian then cashed in across the afternoon and passed three figures in First Class cricket for the 35th time during the evening session, but wickets kept tumbling at the other end, with Ben Raine picking up three of them as Durham chipped away.

However, Harris remained unbeaten on 135 and Lancashire reached close on 356 for seven to give the visitors the edge after day one.

Lancashire assistant coach William Porterfield said 

"We're pretty pleased with the all-round day. Marcus has been incredible. He was all last season and has carried that into this season as well. He's as great in the changing room and off the pitch as he is on it.

"Those couple of partnerships at the end, a couple of 50-run partnerships got us up to what's a decent day for ourselves.

"There was obviously going to be a bit of nip there, we knew that was going to be the case regardless, but I think it's a pretty good pitch, it'll be interesting to see how it progresses throughout the game.

"We've got to come out tomorrow morning and eke out as many as we can. If can do what we did in the last 20 overs tomorrow, get up to 400 then that'll be a fantastic position."