Unexpected triumph
Durham v Derbyshire at Chester-le-Street. 31 July, 1, 2 August 1997
Derbyshire 254 (CJ Adams 107) and 176 (MR May 64, SJ Brown 5/58) Durham 174 (PAJ DeFreitas 5/37) and 257-4 (JJB Lewis 160*) Durham won by six wickets. Durham 20 points, Derbyshire 6 points
Sometimes the most unexpected triumphs bring the greatest joy. Durham’s victory in this match between the two bottom-placed counties in the Championship table was certainly unexpected. They had not won a Championship fixture at the Riverside for nearly two years. Starting the third day requiring 204 to win with seven wickets standing was not a promising position after 33 wickets had fallen during the first two days.
Variable bounce on the first morning, particularly from Melvyn Betts and John Wood, encouraged the Derbyshire batters to go for their shots. They scored at 4.7 runs per over through their innings in which Chris Adams’ century before lunch off 107 balls was the highlight. There was palpable Durham relief when he fell immediately after the interval.
Derbyshire dismissed Durham’s top six before the total was 100 by the close of an eventful first day and only lower-order aggression limited the first-innings deficit to 80 runs. Simon Brown, playing his hundredth first-class match for Durham, took five wickets as batting became no easier. When Stewart Hutton was dismissed by a shooter and two other wickets fell before the end of the second day the writing appeared to be on the wall for Durham.
Jon Lewis had other ideas. Wayward Derbyshire bowling at the start of the day helped him to find his touch. By the time nightwatcher, James Boiling, was dismissed he and Lewis had set a new Durham fourth wicket partnership record of 204 and victory was in sight. Lewis finished with an unbeaten 160, including 25 fours, as he passed 1,000 first-class runs in his successful first season, following his move from Essex.