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26th April 2018 Match Previews

Steel returns to Specsavers CC squad

Opening batsman Cameron Steel returns to a 12-man squad as Durham look to get their season up-and-running away at Northamptonshire in the Specsavers County Championship.

Steel missed last week’s defeat to Kent after falling ill overnight & withdrawing from the squad.

He recovered over the weekend & returned to action yesterday for the Second XI, scoring 44 against Leicestershire on the first day of a three-day friendly.

It hands Jon Lewis the chance to reshuffle at the top of the order, with Steel likely to partner Aiden Markram, while Gareth Harte drops out of the squad.

The only other change is the inclusion of Josh Coughlin, who took two wickets in the Seconds’ rain-affected 50-over friendly with Leicestershire on Tuesday. Matthew Potts makes way due to tightness in his back.

Northamptonshire have lost both of their opening games in this season’s Specsavers County Championship, against Middlesex at Lord’s followed by a home innings defeat against Warwickshire last week.

Squad vs Northamptonshire (27-30 April)

Paul Collingwood (c), Aiden Markram, Cameron Steel, Will Smith, Graham Clark, Michael Richardson, Stuart Poynter (wk), James Weighell, Nathan Rimmington, Barry McCarthy, Chris Rushworth, Josh Coughlin

Last time out

2-5 June 2017 – Northamptonshire (338 & 205/8) beat Durham (166 & 376)

A dramatic, weather-affected match ended in the rain at Emirates Riverside as some late hitting handed Northamptonshire the closest of victories with just one ball remaining.

Durham could also have snatched victory in a topsy-turvy finish, but Alex Wakely’s 84 guided his side towards the finish. Paul Coughlin took two wickets in the final over to make it ten in the match for the first time.

Max Holden’s century & 96 from Josh Cobb handed Northants a huge first innings lead. However, Cameron Steel helped Durham fight back with his maiden first-class century, sealed by launching Hughes’s left-arm spin for six over long-on.

Supporting roles from Paul Collingwood (54), Ryan Pringle (47*) & Stephen Cook (42) helped set Northants a target of 205.

Match coverage

The latest match highlights will be available from Wantage Road, keeping you up-to-date with all of the boundaries, wickets & key moments throughout the match.

Ball-by-ball commentary is available from Martin Emmerson & the BBC Sport team.

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