Result: Durham 2nd XI (450/8; Muchall 108) beat Worcestershire 2nd XI (188 & 167; Randhawa 5/22) by an innings and 95 runs
Gurman Randhawa completed a nine-wicket match haul as the Second XI registered a fine victory over Worcerstershire at Stourbridge.
The left arm spinner’s 5/22 in the second innings instigated a collapse from 123/5 to 167 all out as they wrapped up another impressive win.
Neil Killeen’s side earlier took the final two wickets to enforce the follow on after making 450/8 in their only innings.
George Harding also took two, adding to his first innings four, to preserve their unbeaten red ball run this summer.
Randhawa and Harding both completed four-fors in the first innings, quickly wrapping up the hosts innings and setting up a large part of Day Three to bowl them out again.
There was a pair of early inroads until Worcestershire batsmen Ollie Westbury and first innings top scorer Zen Malik put on 57 for the third wicket.
Harding removed the pair before Randhawa struck for the first time, second time around.
Another brief partnership ensued but Killeen’s side were well on top and it was not long before they finished off the line up.
Randhawa was again chief destroyer before Adam Hickey took the final wicket, having Alex Wilkinson stumped by ‘keeper Stuart Poynter.
It rounds off three victories in as many games against the Pears’ second string ahead of next week’s home matches against Derbyshire.
Close, Day One: Durham 2nd XI (398/5; Muchall 108, Hickey 80, Poynter 76) vs Worcestershire 2nd XI
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Gordon Muchall notched his first century of 2016 as the Second XI batsman made hay on the first day against Worcestershire at Stourbridge CC.
The 33-year-old completed his century shortly after lunch in a mammoth 189-run opening stand with Adam Hickey.
Hickey made 80 and Stuart Poynter racked up 76 at number three as they finished the day scoring just shy of five-per-over.
The rate was also helped along by a 49-ball 62 from captain James Weighell before bad light curtailed play shortly before the scheduled close.
With just two days remaining Weighell will look for an early declaration on Day Two but his side are in a commanding position thanks to the batsmen.
Muchall went to lunch on 99* after a dominant first session following the skipper’s decision to bat first.
He reached the three figures before Chris Russell bowled both he and Hickey within four overs; the bowler was the pick of Worcestershire’s attack with 2/67.
Poynter, on an excellent run of form during this summer, continued the scoring with Jack Burnham, who scored six boundaries in a knock of 36.
Once the latter departed, Weighell entered the fray and pushed the scoring immediately with a string of boundaries.
Ben Twohig removed Poynter before snaring Paul Braithwaite to signal the close of play, but not before Weighell had moved to a serene unbeaten 50.