Durham round off their pre-season preparations with a convincing win against Durham UCCE ahead of their 2026 Rothesay County Championship opener against Kent.
Shafiqullah Ghafari and Sam Conners claimed four wickets each on the final day of pre-season in Chester-le-Street
Beginning the final day of their pre-season preparations on 50/2 with a lead of 255 Durham added 176 in the morning session before a lunchtime declaration.
Will Rhodes and Kasey Aldridge resumed with Rhodes motoring to an 83-ball century, retiring out on 104 from 87 with 11 fours and four maximums.
Aldridge joined Rhodes on his walk back to the pavilion making 47 from 95 with Durham on 166, allowing Graham Clark and Ollie Robinson some time in the middle ahead of Friday’s season opener at Banks Homes Riverside.
Clark and Robinson added 30 together before the former was bowled by George Kemkers on 24 whilst Robinson had made an unbeaten 20 when the hosts declared at the break.
After a resolute opening 18 overs from the University side, Conners struck in back-to-back overs and grabbed his third six overs later to put an end to the visitors’ 31-run stand, removing Wilf La Fontaine-Jackson for 32.
Spinners Callum Parkinson and Ghafari both picked up their first wicket before tea to leave the visitors 70/5 with a deficit of 361 remaining.
Ghafari grabbed a further three wickets in the final session whilst Zac Mawdsley claimed his second to reduce the visitors to 116/9.
A defiant last wicket stand of 49 between Jamie Cairns and Angus Catto frustrated the hosts but Sam Conners returned to close the game out with his fourth wicket of the day, winning by 266 runs in the end.
Durham dismiss Durham UCCE for 180 at Banks Homes Riverside to close day two in a commanding position in their final 2026 pre-season friendly.
With clouds cast over Chester-le-Street, the home side declared on 385/6 ahead of the penulitmate day sending visiting side Durham UCCE into the crease.
Durham’s opening bowlers struggled to find their rhythm initially with a blustery wind present, as the visitors helped themselves to an opening partnership of 62.
Will Rhodes then made the opening breakthrough finding the outside edge of Wilf La Fontaine-Jackson on 26 before Sam Conners bounced out Arush Buchake in the following over as Durham struck twice in five balls.
Conners had his second wicket four overs later removing middle stump before Luke Robinson claimed three wickets in a four over spell pre-lunch- including a superb Kasey Aldridge diving catch, to leave Durham UCCE 116/6.
Callum Parkinson took Durham’s seventh on the second ball after the break, the first of two wickets either side of 17-year-old Zac Mawdsley’s maiden senior Durham wicket reducing the visitors to 133 for nine.
Jamie Cairns and Angus Catto produced a resistant final stand of 47 as Ryan Campbell’s side dismissed the University side for 180, with Shafiqullah Ghafari’s wicket confirming a first innings lead of 205.
Durham had four overs to face before tea, where Oliver Armstrong picked up two wickets in two balls as Emilio Gay and Colin Ackermann both edged behind.
Kasey Aldridge joined Rhodes at the crease as the pair added 37 together taking Durham to 50/2 by the time heavy rain brought an early end to day two.
Durham began their final pre-season fixture against Durham UCCE as the Rothesay County Championship season edges closer.
Ryan Campbell’s side elected to bat first with an uncontested toss but lost Emilio Gay early as he flicked one off his pads to midwicket for 22.
Will Rhodes and Colin Ackermann added 43 before the latter feathered a George Kemkers delivery behind on 19.
David Bedingham then got some valuable time in the middle as he and Rhodes put on 90 together for the third wicket.
Bedingham went on to score 66 from 85 balls with five four and a trio of sixes as he became the first of two batters to retire out with Durham on 160.
Rhodes made 63, sharing 49 with stand-in skipper Graham Clark.
Clark then ensured Durham cemented their dominant position as he got going immediately, going on to retire with 85 from 95 balls featuring 12 fours and a pair of maximums.
Ollie Robinson struck 72 from 95 balls with 10 boundaries and when he was sent back to the pavilion after chipping one to midwicket, Durham had 354 on the board.
Kasey Aldridge struck an unbeaten 28 and was joined by Callum Parkinson for the final 10 overs of the day as the hosts made it to the close on 385/6.