Day 3
Michael Jones and Cameron Bancroft put on an unbeaten partnership of 89 as Durham dominate with a 10 wicket win on day three of their LV=Insurance County Championship match at New Road.
Libby struck 126 to take his run tally for the campaign to 776 – a figure only bettered by Durham batsman David Bedingham (787).
He received support throughout the day from the middle to lower order as Worcestershire totalled 336 all out after resuming on 99-3.
But the home side were only able to set a modest 87 target and Cameron Bancroft (46 not out) and Michael Jones (34 not out) saw them home without being parted in the final over of the day.
Durham’s third win keeps them in contention for a top two spot when they resume Championship action in early July.
They have a potent attack, even in the absence of England’s Mark Wood, spearheaded by Chris Rushworth, Brydon Carse and Ben Raine.
But Matthew Potts also stepped up to the mark in his second appearance of the campaign with match figures of 36.3-10-98-8.
Worcestershire’s hopes ended with this third defeat in the last four games after drawing the first five fixtures.
They were playing catch-up after being bowled out for 131 on the opening day thanks to a mixture of excellent bowling and poor shot selection before
Bedingham and Michael Jones pressed home the advantage for Durham with the bat.
Rushworth made the first breakthrough of the day when nightwatchman Josh Tongue was lbw for 15.
Raine struck in his first over with Ross Whiteley on four driving at a delivery slanted across him and edging to Cameron Bancroft at first slip.
Brett D’Oliveira, who had top-scored with an unbeaten 39 in Worcestershire’s first innings, looked in good form.
He straight drove Potts for four and clipped Raine through mid-wicket for another boundary.
Libby had a let-off on 75 when keeper Ned Eckersley failed to hold onto a chance off Rushworth.
But otherwise he and D’Oliveira played with freedom and the century stand came up immediately after lunch from 147 balls.
Carse bowled a testing post lunch spell to Libby who was caught at first slip off a no ball on 96.
But he went to his hundred – from 180 balls – with his 14th four.
D’Oliveira, after making an accomplished 46, was bowled by Potts from a delivery which kept low to end a 106 partnership with Libby.
Libby struck three successive boundaries off Potts but his fine knock ended on 126 when he gave spinner Scott Borthwick the charge and was stumped. His 210-ball knock contained 18 fours.
Cox made 26 before he was caught at second slip off Raine and Club Captain Joe Leach, with 19, top edged Potts and was caught behind.
Barnard was left unbeaten on 34 after last man Dillon Pennington (5) edged Carse to second slip.
Day 2
David Bedingham propelled Durham into a position of strength with his third century of the season on day two of the LV=Insurance County Championship encounter with Worcestershire at New Road.
The competition’s leading run scorer hit a chanceless 121 to take his tally for the summer to 787 at an average of 71.54.
Bedingham and Michael Jones (78) shared a fifth wicket stand of 171 to help Durham to 381 all out and a first innings lead of 250.
Worcestershire rallied after a disappointing first session, in claiming six wickets for 76 to secure maximum batting points with Josh Tongue returning 4-73 from 25 overs.
But there is still sufficient encouragement in the pitch for the bowlers and Matthew Potts picked up two wickets as Worcestershire limped to 99-3 by the close despite an unbeaten Jake Libby half century.
Bedingham greeted the introduction of Dillon Pennington into the attack with three boundaries in his first over and struck leg spinner Brett D’Oliveira for two straight sixes – the second of which completed an 84 ball fifty.
Jones went to a 116 ball half century and Durham batted through the morning session without losing a wicket and adding 102 runs.
It was a different proposition for batting once the second new ball had been taken and Leach made the breakthrough when Jones edged through to keeper Ben Cox.
Bedingham brought up his century – from 154 balls with two sixes and 11 fours – when he turned Dillon Pennington off his legs for two.
But Jack Burnham on nine had no answer to a lifting delivery from Pennington and the nick was taken head high by Cox.
Ned Eckersley edged a Leach away swinger to Cox after making eight and Brydon Carse had only a single to his name when he cut Pennington to Ed Barnard at point.
Tongue brought Bedingham’s fine knock to an end on 121 when he was lbw working the ball to leg. He batted for 183 balls and hit two sixes and 13 fours.
Barnard wrapped the innings up when Ben Raine, after a quickfire 16, holed out to deep backward square.
Potts quickly made a breakthrough with Daryl Mitchell (2) falling to a superb one-handed reflex catch in the gulley region by Carse.
Jake Libby looked in good form and greeted the introduction of Raine with three boundaries in an over.
Tom Fell also looked composed at the crease and the second wicket pair added 67 in fluent fashion in just 15 overs.
But Potts returned to the attack and had Fell leg before for 21 and Gareth Roderick completed a pair when shouldering arms and being bowled by Chris Rushworth.
Day 2 reaction: David Bedingham
Day 1
Brydon Carse continued his excellent form as he and Matthew Potts picked up four wickets apiece to help put Durham in command on day one of the LV=Insurance County Championship match with Worcestershire at New Road.
Carse took his wicket tally to 32 in seven games this summer and ended with 4-25 from 13 overs as Worcestershire were dismissed for 131 in 50.3 overs after being put in.
He was given excellent support by Potts who achieved career best figures of 4-32 from 12.2 overs.
It was high quality bowling although they were aided by some undistinguished shots with only Brett D’Oliveira, who batted nearly three hours for an unbeaten 39, offering prolonged resistance.
Opener Alex Lees ensured Durham capitalised with a fine half century and Worcestershire were guilty of too many ‘four’ balls before Josh Tongue claimed two late wickets in a total of 140-4.
Worcestershire quickly ran into trouble on an overcast morning and Jake Libby on 13 was caught low down by Lees at backward point of Carse.
Potts and Carse then picked up three wickets between them in the space of five balls to reduce the home side to 20-4.
Tom Fell managed a single before he looked to work Potts on the legside and was lbw. Two balls later Gareth Roderick moved across his stumps and was also leg before.
Carse beat the defensive push of Daryl Mitchell (6) as he became another lbw victim.
Ben Raine found the edge of Ross Whiteley’s bat after making eight and Durham skipper Scott Borthwick made no mistake at second slip.
It became 82-6 when play resumed after lunch as Potts claimed a third wicket when Ben Cox on 11 went for a drive and edged through to keeper Ned Eckersley.
Ed Barnard collected three boundaries in an over from Potts via two cover drives and an upper cut but two wickets fell in successive overs from Carse.
Barnard on 20 pushed hard at an away swinger and was caught behind.
Worcestershire Club Captain Joe Leach departed for a fourth ball duck when he nicked the same bowler to second slip.
The innings was wrapped up as Josh Tongue on nine went lbw to Ben Raine before Borthwick at second slip held onto a low chance offered by Dillon Pennington off Potts for nought.
Worcestershire needed to strike back early with the new ball and the first bowling change – with Tongue taking over from Leach – brought an immediate reward.
Cameron Bancroft (18) was undone by a ball which moved away from him and Fell took a fine low catch at first slip.
Lees completed a 96-ball half century with six boundaries and he and Borthwick put on 69 for the second wicket.
Whiteley came into the attack and in his second over Lees (52) was superbly caught down the leg side by Cox one-handed diving to his right.
Tongue then helped Worcestershire finish the day on a positive note with two wickets in the space of three balls.
Borthwick on 42 sliced him to third man where Barnard held onto the chance and then nightwatchman Potts ducked under a delivery but the ball hit his bat and Cox took a sprawling legside catch.
Day 1 reaction: Matthew Potts