Hugo Croft scores an unbeaten century, backed by runs for Robbie Bowman in both innings as Durham Boys’ Under 18s close their ECB Championship campaign on a high with victory over Leicestershire at Uppingham School.
After winning the toss and choosing to bat first, Durham found themselves 39/3 with the hosts enjoying the better of the opening hour.
Robbie Bowman led Durham’s initial recovery, sharing 71 with Jim Twiddy before putting on 61 with Hugo Croft as he scored a run-a-ball 75 with 12 fours and one maximum.
The Foxes struck twice in three overs to leave Durham 176 for six and soon after Croft shared a stand worth 50 with Noah Worthy, the hosts picked up another pair of quick wickets to have the Ds eight down.
Brett Hutchinson made 43 from 64 as he and Croft put on 100 for the ninth wicket with Croft unbeaten on 97 when Hutchinson departed. Croft went on to reach three figures after hitting 17 boundaries with Durham declaring soon after on 334/9.
John Windows’ side made a fast start with the ball as the hosts were reduced to two for one, Zac Mawdsley and Will Alexander removing both openers in the first two overs before Leicestershire hit back strongly with a partnership of 172
Ronak Rajashekar and Arun Kalsi helped the hosts reached 172/2, Kalsi made 89 before becoming the second of Mawdsley’s three victims whilst Rajashekar went on to score 104*.
The Foxes declared on 258/4 trailing by 76 as they pushed for victory.
Durham made quick progress scoring 294/8 inside 50 overs as they progressed into the lead 370 by at the close of day two.
Callum Gaffney and Bowman were crucial in Durham’s second innings with Gaffney scoring 97 from 105 balls with 10 fours and one six whilst Bowman’s 92 off 77 saw him strike 10 boundaries alongside five maximums.
The Ds added a further 29 on the morning of day three, handing Leicestershire a target of 400 for victory.
Alexander and Hutchinson claimed a wicket apiece in the opening five overs. Kalsi and Rajashekar shared 79 before both were dismissed in the space of three balls.
Partnerships of 53 and 42 helped the hosts resist Durham’s pressure but when Brett Hutchinson claimed his second, the Ds had the Foxes on the back foot requiring four wickets to win.
It looked as though rainfall would prevent a result with the players off the field for an hour but after returning to the field at 4:30pm, Edward Minto and Zac Mawdsley wrapped up victory by 133 runs.