Watch free video highlights from day four here – www.durhamccc.co.uk/durhamtv/highlights/
Durham had to settle for a draw in the first game of their title defence against Northamptonshire at Wantage Road.
Supporters were treated to a fascinating final day as the champions aggressively hunted for wickets to try and get the season off to a winning start. The home side, playing their first game at this level for 10 years and battling with a number of injury problems, showed impressive resolve to ensure the spoils were shared.
After being dismissed for 244 in their second innings, Paul Collingwood’s side set the hosts a testing 319 to win in 69 overs.
Two quick wickets from Graham Onions and then Scott Borthwick gave the champions hope of forcing a victory, but runs from James Middlebrook and Rob Newton prevented a collapse.
Middlebrook was eventually dismissed for 47, whilst Newton remained unbeaten on 48 to leave Durham just one wicket away from a thrilling victory.
Another beautiful sunny morning greeted the players as they arrived at Wantage Road for the final day’s play and at that stage, all three results were possible.
Durham resumed on 178-5, giving them a lead of 252, but hopes of a declaration were dented when Michael Richardson departed early. Richardson saw his off-stump uprooted by a fine delivery from Maurice Chambers, having added just six to his overnight score.
The pair of Gareth Breese and Usman Arshad eased Durham beyond the 200 mark, with Breese backing up his half-century in the first innings with a useful 34.
After both Breese and Arshad departed in quick succession though, the Durham innings came to a swift conclusion. Jamie Harrison threatened to repeat his heroics from Monday with two early boundaries, but he was left stranded as Graham Onions and Chris Rushworth were dismissed within the same over.
Northamptonshire knew that they had to score quickly to give themselves a chance of victory, and they started in a positive mood. The normally conservative Stephen Peters batted aggressively before Chris Rushworth found the edge of his bat, with Phil Mustard taking the catch.
The visitors still needed a spark though, and Graham Onions provided it. Last season’s leading wicket-taker bowled former Durham man Kyle Coetzer and then followed it up just six balls later by removing Matthew Spriegel’s off stump. The left-hander had scored 97 earlier in the match, so this was a big opening for the champions.
James Middlebrook was approaching a half-century before Gareth Breese took a good diving catch to give Arshad a first victim.
On the stroke of tea, Rushworth then struck Andrew Hall on the pad to cause further jitters in the home dressing room at the break. Northamptonshire knew their chance of victory had gone and they had 32 overs to bat out with five wickets remaining.
It didn’t take Onions long to strike after the interval, as David Willey was induced into a false stroke, giving Scott Borthwick a catch in the slips.
On a slow wicket and without the option of a second new ball, it was always likely to be an uphill task as time began to run out. Newton, renowned for his attacking stroke play, suppressed his natural instincts to frustrate the Durham attack, with Steven Crook proving to be just as stubborn at the other end.
Jamie Harrison returned to the attack though and bowled Crook, before Borthwick took two wickets in two balls to set up a nervous finish.
Borthwick, on a hat-trick, was kept out by Azharullah, who then saw out the final over from Harrison to secure a dramatic draw.
Despite being unable to force a victory, a fine all-round performance will give Durham plenty of confidence ahead of their next match, as the champions take on Somerset this Sunday at Emirates ICG.
For tickets, click here – www.durhamccc.co.uk/pages/tickets-and-merchandise/
Day Three: Northamptonshire 378 (Spriegel 97) trail Durham 452 & 178-5 (Richardson 53*) by 252 runs with 5 wickets remaining at Wantage Road, Northampton.
Watch free video highlights from day three here – www.durhamccc.co.uk/durhamtv/highlights/
Durham will hope to score quickly on the final morning before attempting to force a victory after establishing a healthy lead on day three.
Opponents Northamptonshire were indebted to former Surrey man Matthew Spriegel, whose excellent 97 ensured the hosts got to within one hundred of the champions’ first innings total.
However, after conceding a deficit of 74 runs, Northants will probably have to try and bat out for a draw on day four unless they can take some early wickets.
On a beautiful sunny day, Paul Collingwood and his side got off to a good start, with the skipper taking a catch to dismiss Rob Newton from Scott Borthwick’s third delivery.
Less than half an hour later Usman Arshad accounted for Andrew Hall by striking him on the pad with a straight delivery, and then the same bowler had David Willey caught at cover shortly after. Willey, playing in this game solely as a batsmen due to injury, chipped a straight ball into the grateful hands of Gareth Breese.
As wickets were tumbling, Northants began to go on the offensive and Steven Crook struck four quick boundaries before Keaton Jennings was introduced to the attack. With just his second ball, Jennings struck to give Durham a fourth wicket before lunch.
The home side rallied after lunch, with Spriegel and David Murphy adding 67 for the eighth wicket. Spriegel, like Phil Mustard, just missed out on a century when he edged Arshad through to the Durham keeper. Harrison then accounted for Murphy in the next over, before Arshad picked up his fourth wicket to wrap up the innings and give the visitors a useful lead.
Durham lost Mark Stoneman early and Jennings was caught behind from a James Middlebrook delivery, but Jon Lewis’ side didn’t panic. A fairly placid pitch meant a collapse was unlikely, although Middlebrook was proving difficult to face.
The former Essex spinner picked up the wicket of Borthwick, but not before the England International had reached 47. Middlebrook also dismissed Mustard (12) and Collingwood (31) but just as in the first innings, Michael Richardson frustrated the home attack.
Richardson became the ninth player in the match to register a half-century and he, along with Gareth Breese (5*) will hope to push Durham’s lead beyond 300 tomorrow, before the bowlers attempt to wrap up a victory and give the champions the perfect start to the season.
Day Two: Northamptonshire 1st innings 200-3 (Coetzer 53, Peters 51) v Durham 1st innings 452 (Mustard 91, Richardson 80, Harrison 65, Breese 62, Jennings 54) at the County Ground, Northampton.
Watch free video highlights from day two here – www.durhamccc.co.uk/durhamtv/highlights/
It was a frustrating day for the bowlers at Wantage Road, as only eight wickets fell and nearly 400 runs scored, with the game now evenly poised.
Durham resumed on day two hoping to push up beyond the 350 mark and they exceeded that by some distance thanks to some excellent batting from Phil Mustard, Gareth Breese and Jamie Harrison, with the latter scoring a maiden half-century for the county.
However, the champions didn’t have it all their own way as they were then made to toil in the field. Newly promoted Northants scored quickly and both captain Steven Peters and former Durham man Kyle Coetzer passed fifty to set up an intriguing third day’s play.
The experienced duo of Mustard and Breese were unbeaten overnight and the pair were able to register a third batting bonus point, before Mustard gloved a delivery from Steven Crook through to David Murphy. Agonisingly, Mustard fell just nine runs short of a seventh first class century.
With the 350 mark still to be reached, Breese passed a personal milestone as he secured a valuable half-century – his first in the Championship since 2008. Usman Arshad had joined him at the crease, but Arshad edged James Middlebrook into the safe hands of Andrew Hall when on 20.
Whilst some may have expected the innings to then fizzle out, instead the Wantage Road crowd saw some fireworks. The unlikely star of the show was Jamie Harrison, who batted with plenty of aggression against a tiring attack. Breese was stumped for 62 but Harrison and Graham Onions managed to ease Durham past 400 just before the tea interval.
Harrison continued to swing the bat after the break, smashing a couple of sixes and nine fours in a fine innings of 65. Onions, just as he did against Durham University, was left unbeaten at the end of the innings after Chris Rushworth was caught by Crook.
Injuries have ravaged Northamptonshire during pre-season, but they showed impressive resilience to frustrate Durham, who could only claim three wickets before the close of play. James Middlebrook scored quickly before Harrison continued his excellent day by having the opener caught at slip by Scott Borthwick.
Steven Peters played in a more circumspect fashion, but the former Essex man built a good platform before he gave Borthwick another catch, this time off the bowling of Onions. Harrison then accounted for Coetzer, but not before the Scotland International reached 53 on his 30th birthday.
With few demons in the wicket, Matthew Spriegel and Rob Newton ensured Northants reached the close without further damage and Durham will hope for more favourable bowling conditions when play resumes on Tuesday.
Day three resumes at 11am – full coverage on durhamccc.co.uk with regular updates on our Twitter page @DurhamCricket
Day One: Northamptonshire v Durham 1st innings 265-5 (Richardson 80, Mustard 63*, Jennings 54) at the County Ground, Northampton
Watch free video highlights from day one here – www.durhamccc.co.uk/durhamtv/highlights/
After winning the toss, Paul Collingwood elected to bat first on a slow wicket against newly-promoted Northamptonshire. The hosts, who were playing Division One cricket for the first time in 10 years, made an early breakthrough when Mark Stoneman shouldered arms and was bowled by Azharullah. Scott Borthwick then hit four early boundaries before former South African International Andrew Hall struck him on the pad with a delivery that kept low.
At 40-2, Durham needed a partnership and Michael Richardson was ably assisted by the patient Keaton Jennings as the pair put on 82 for the third wicket. Jennings failed to score against Durham University last week but the 21 year old showed impressive maturity and temperament as he passed fifty before edging a delivery from Maurice Chambers to Hall in the slips.
Richardson carried on playing in fluent fashion though, striking a six and nine fours on his way to the half-century mark. Richardson and Phil Mustard ensured Durham secured a first batting point, and a century partnership seemed within grasp before Richardson departed. Off-spinner James Middlebrook found the edge of the bat and wicketkeeper David Murphy took a simple catch.
Mustard, who scored 89 against Durham MCCU, continued his good form as he reached his 44th first class fifty. Unfortunately, Paul Collingwood couldn’t repeat his heroics in the University game as he fell cheaply for four.
Northamptonshire will have sensed a chance to make further inroads before the close but Mustard was joined by Gareth Breese and the pair saw their side through to stumps. Breese, who only played three Championship games last season, batted well for his 28 and Mustard remained unbeaten on 63.