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A resiliant effort by Durham’s batsman secured a hard fought draw against Derbyshire 2nd XI at Belper Meadows CC.
Derbyshire declared after adding 90 to their overnight lead, leaving the visitors with an unlikely target of 334 for victory.
Opener Graham Clark led the way with a half-century, but regular wickets kept the home side in with a shout of victory.
Three wickets for seven runs, including that of skipper Calum MacLeod, confirmed their dominance as they pushed for victory.
But Durham’s lower order had other ideas. Stuart Poynter and Jack Burnham both used up deliveries before falling in quick succession.
A combination of Andy Ireland, Matt Milnes and Gavin Main then defied the hosts’ experienced bowling attack, using up all of 174 balls to bat out for a well-earned draw.
The second team will be in action against MCC YC at Shenley next Monday in a Trophy match, before a three-day match commences the day after.
STUMPS, DAY 2: Derbyshire 2nd XI 337 (Knight 88, Ball 71*) & 67-1 v Durham 2nd XI 161. Derbyshire 2nd XI lead by 243 runs with nine wickets remaining
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Durham’s second string will have work to do in order to avoid defeat on day three after Derbyshire took control at Belper Meadows CC.
After quickly mopping up the three wickets required to bowl out their hosts, Alastair Maiden’s young team found batting difficult and were forced to concede a sizeable first innings deficit.
Ryan Pringle top-scored with 33, but Mark Higginbottom (4-30) dismissed him and then claimed the other key wickets of Calum MacLeod and Stuart Poynter.
Derbyshire had extended their lead by the close of play, although Andy Ireland had Tom Wood caught by Graham Clark a little under an hour before stumps.
The home side made slow progress in their second innings as Ireland, Pringle and Matt Milnes collectively conceded just 23 from their 13 overs, so Derbyshire will look to accelerate on the final morning to set up a declaration as they try and force a win.
STUMPS, DAY 1. Derbyshire 2nd XI 312-7 (Knight 88, Ball 55*) v Durham 2nd XI. Derbyshire 2nd XI lead by 312 runs with three first innings wickets remaining.
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Max Morley took three wickets, but a seventh wicket stand of 160 helped Derbyshire 2nd XI recover strongly on day one at Belper Meadows CC.
After reducing their hosts to 152-6, Alastair Maiden’s side were left frustrated by half-centuries from Tom Knight (88) and Tim Ball (58*).
21 year old spinner Morley (3-27) finally trapped Knight LBW to bring an end to the day’s play, and Durham will hope to quickly claim the final three wickets on day two.
2nd XI skipper Calum MacLeod, who hit 90 against the same opponents in a trophy match on Monday, called correctly at the toss and asked Derbyshire to bat first.
It was MacLeod who made the first breakthrough too, as the Scotsman’s medium pace accounted for Thomas Wood, who was bowled for 28. MacLeod was clearly in a miserly mood, conceding just 11 runs from his 10 overs during the day.
Although unable to re-create his five wicket heroics from the trophy match, Matt Milnes then contributed by having Ben Slater caught behind for 34.
When Andy Ireland then bowled the flame haired Callum Brodrick and had Rahib Ali caught by Ryan Pringle, Derbyshire were struggling at 78-4.
The muscular figure of Chesney Hughes was proving difficult to dislodge, with the left hander approaching a half-century before Morley managed to sneak a delivery past him and into the stumps.
Greg Cork departed nine balls later but that only brought Knight and Ball together, with the pair striking 15 boundaries before Morley eventually had the last word.