Durham Second XI got their 2026 season up and running with a 10-wicket victory over Durham UCCE at the Racecourse Ground.
After sending the University side into bat in the three-day friendly, Alan Walker’s side enjoyed a strong start with the ball reducing the hosts to 96/6 before a fightback from the lower order produced a total of 232, Barton top scoring with 57.
Sam Conners and Archie Bailey claimed three wickets apiece whilst Luke Robinson and Callum Parkinson shared four scalps.
In response, Durham lost Faizan Ghumman early but a 142-run stand between George Drissell (87) and Luke Symington (89) saw Durham close in on the University’s first innings total.
Robbie Bowman added 33 before Sam Conners (60) and Shafiqullah Ghafari (45) put on 76 from 79 balls for the seventh wicket, with Durham eventually declaring on 384/9 leading by 152 on the final day.
Robinson struck early in the third innings before the hosts provided a defiant 69-run partnership for the second wicket with Joe Macrobert adding a run-a-ball 45, after scoring 48 in the opening innings.
Wickets then began to fall in clusters with Drissell’s 3-41 the pick of the bowling figures whilst Charlie Harmison and Ghafari picked up a pair of wickets each whilst Conners claimed one as Durham UCCE were dismissed for 156.
Ghumman and Jim Twiddy knocked off Durham’s deficit of five in just three balls to wrap up the victory.