DURHAM v GLAMORGAN

Glamorgan were dismissed by Durham for 97 after losing their last nine wickets for 34 in 18.2 overs having been put in to bat on the opening day of their LV=Insurance County Championship match at Emirates Riverside in Chester-le-Street. In reply, Durham were 223-3 at the close of play.

Close of Play Report

Durham began the final session on 117-0 with Glamorgan eager to make inroads. After two runs had been added, Michael Hogan switched to the Finchael End and made the breakthrough with his fifth delivery as Lees departed leg before and was replaced by Scott Borthwick. He began with a sumptuous cover-drive against Hogan before Jones clipped the veteran to the ropes at mid-wicket.

Borthwick also drilled Carey for four through the covers before Jones greeted the return of van der Gugten by dispatching him through extra-cover for four. He also inside-edged a drive against Carey to fine-leg before Borthwick drove Carey to the ropes at long-on as well as long-off. The home captain also dispatched Carey for four through extra-cover but on 29 he edged van der Gugten to second slip where David Lloyd held a good low catch.

172-2 saw David Bedingham make his way to the middle and the in-form South African began by cover-driving his first and fourth balls for four before straight-driving Douthwaite for another crisply-struck boundary in the next over. Soon afterwards, Bedingham unfurled a punched drive off the back foot against Douthwaite followed by a firm off-drive and a clip to the ropes at mid-wicket as Durham reached the 200-mark and their first batting point at the end of the 52nd over.

Next ball, van der Gugten found the edge of Jones’ bat with Cooke completing a regulation catch as Glamorgan secured their first bowling point shortly before the Riverside floodlights came on. Another cover drive from Bedingham saw him become the country’s leading run-scorer in the competition with the Springbok further adding to his tally with another firmly struck pair of off-drives for four.

Teatime Update

Glamorgan resumed on 85-6 after lunch with Kiran Carlson and Andrew Salter looking to stabilize the innings after the hour before the interval had seen five wickets tumble for 16 runs in the space of 12.2 overs. Paul Coughlin and Ben Raine continued the bowling duties. But after a single was added, Salter departed as he edged a ball from Raine into Ned Eckersley’s gloves before two balls later Timm van der Gugten was clean bowled. 86-8 then became 90-9 as Carlson was leg before to a full length delivery from Coughlin.

Lukas Carey cover-drove Raine for four before being dropped at cover as he skied a drive against Coughlin. But two balls later he was not so fortunate as Rushworth hold a catch running back at mid-on to give Coughlin his fourth wicket as Glamorgan were dismissed for 97 - their lowest total in Championship cricket against Durham surpassing the 111 made at Cardiff in 2018.

Alex Lees and Michael Jones – the Scottish international - began Durham’s reply as Michael Hogan and Carey shared the new ball. Lees caressed a delivery from Carey through the covers for four whilst Jones drove Hogan to the boards at mid-off. Lees also drilled Hogan through mid-on for four before doing the same to van der Gugten. Jones also straight drove Douthwaite for four before Lees brought up the 50-stand by clipping the Dutchman to the ropes at square-leg.

Jones found the ropes again as he off-drove Douthwaite before Lees steered van der Gugten through backward point for four. Jones then pulled Douthwaite for four before Lees did the same in his next over, followed by a flat-batted stroke through extra-cover and another through mid-on as Durham eased past Glamorgan’s total shortly before tea with Jones swatting Douthwaite through backward point.

Salter also had a brief salvo before tea and was punched through extra-cover by Jones as the opener reached his fifty from 95 balls. Lees followed suit from 20 balls fewer in the next over as he cover-drove Lloyd for four – his 7th boundary.

Lunchtime Report

With the county season entering its final month and play starting at 1030, it was no surprise that Durham opted to bowl first on a green-tinged surface after winning the toss as they looked to avenge their defeat by Glamorgan in the Royal London Cup final at Trent Bridge. The Welsh county made two changes to their line-up with Billy Root and Steve Reingold being replaced by Nick Selman and new acquisition Eddie Byrom who has joined Glamorgan on loan from Somerset for the rest of the 2021 season and ahead of a permanent move having signed a two-deal from 2022.

Hamish Rutherford duly opened the batting with David Lloyd as Chris Rushworth and Matty Potts shared the new ball, with the Kiwi edging Rushworth through the slip cordon for the day’s first boundary whilst Lloyd began with a series of singles. However, the latter departed in Rushworth’s second over as he was adjudged l.b.w. as Selman joined Rutherford who twice punched Potts off the back foot through point for four besides nurdling him to third man for another boundary.

Rutherford also survived a couple of l.b.w. appeals whilst Selman skewed a drive through the gully for four against Rushworth. Rutherford clipped Rushworth to square-leg for four before greeting Ben Raine by driving him through mid-off and mid-on for four and three as the 50 came up in the ninth over. Rushworth duly switched to the Finchael End. After a string of dot balls, Rushworth removed Rutherford who drove a ball to point where Paul Coughlin took a tumbling low catch.

63-2 then became 63-3 as Selman guided a rising ball from Raine into the hands of third slip. Byrom and Kiran Carlson took the total to 73 whereupon the uber-accurate Rushworth claimed his third wicket as Byrom feathered a catch into the gloves pf Ned Eckersley. Chris Cooke joined Carlson who had come into the contest with a Championship aggregate of 811 runs – the third highest in the country – and had a moment of good fortune as he edged Potts to third slip where the catch was dropped by Coughlin.

But Coughlin made amends as in his second over he trapped Cooke l.b.w. as Glamorgan slipped further to 79-5 but matters did not improve as four balls later Dan Douthwaite was bowled as he edged a ball onto his stumps as he shouldered arms to the seamer. Carlson then square-drove Potts for four – the first boundary for eighteen overs.

Glamorgan are 71-2 at the end of the second day of their LV=Insurance County Championship match against Durham at Emirates Riverside after the home side declared on 503-8 to amass a first innings lead of 406 runs.

Close of Play Report

Durham began the final session on 475-8 with an overall lead of 378 as Andrew Salter and David Lloyd resumed the bowling. Trevaskis swept Salter to the ropes at square-leg to complete an 80-ball fifty, before Matty Potts drove the spinner through extra-cover for four followed next ball by a lofted straight drive. He repeated the stroke in the spinner’s next over as the lead went past the 400-mark before Potts swatted him to deep mid-wicket to bring up the 500 whereupon Durham declared.

There were 24 overs remaining in the day’s quota as Hamish Rutherford and David Lloyd began Glamorgan’s second innings, 406 runs in arrears, in overcast conditions as Chris Rushworth opened the bowling in tandem with Potts. Rutherford was the first to find the ropes as he clipped Rushworth to square-leg before next over Lloyd on-drove Potts for four.

Rushworth also beat Rutherford with a beauty which nearly trimmed off stump but instead sped away for four byes before next over Lloyd edged Potts through the slips for a couple of runs to third man. However, he was not so fortunate two balls later as he edged the bowler to Trevaskis in the gully. 20-1 saw Selman join Rutherford who nonchalantly cover drove Potts for four before his new partner nurdled Rushworth to third man for four. Later in the over, Rutherford repeated the stroke against the veteran seamer.

Paul Coughlin then replaced Potts at the Finchael End and, with his fourth delivery, removed Selman who edged into Ned Eckersley’s gloves. Eddie Byrom arrival in the middle coincided with the floodlights coming on, with Ben Raine also replacing Rushworth at the Lumley End. Rutherford also outside edged a brute of a delivery from Coughlin down to third man before Byrom steered Raine through point for four followed by a glance to fine-leg for a second boundary.

Rushworth then switched to the Finchael End for his second salvo with Byrom driving him through mid-off for four. The debutant also survived a loud appeal for l.b.w. against Raine before Potts returned for the last two overs at the Lumley End. However, the third wicket pair remained resolute and saw their side through to the close.

Teatime Update

Durham had a lead of 235 runs when play began after lunch but Lukas Carey struck in the first over of the session as Ned Eckersley edged into the slips and Nick Selman took a fine two-handed catch diving high to his right. Ben Raine joined Paul Coughlin who punched Carey off the back foot for four through extra-cover followed by another firmly-struck drive through the off-side to bring up the 350 and to see Durham to another batting point.

Raine celebrated with another crisply struck cover drive against Timm van der Gugten but in his next over, the Dutchman found the edge of Coughlin’s bat and Selman, at first slip, completed a regulation catch. 361-7 saw Liam Trevaskis make his way to the middle and the left-hander began by pulling Carey for four before in van der Gugten’s next over Raine had a life as a catch at second slip was spilled. He celebrated his good fortune by pulling van der Gugten to the ropes at mid-wicket before Andrew Salter returned to the attack.

With another batting point looming, Raine cover drove van der Gugten for four before outside-edging Hogan to third man for another boundary. Trevaskis also cover-drove Hogan for four before a single by the spinner saw the lead reach the 300-mark, followed next over by another single against Salter which brought up the 400 and a full clutch of bonus points for the home side. Raine then drilled Salter through extra-cover for four to bring up the fifty stand.

Trevaskis also swept Salter for four before Dan Douthwaite returned to the attack and was cover driven by Raine as he completed his fifty from 78 balls. Trevaskis then did the same to Salter as well as Douthwaite as the eighth wicket pair continued to prosper with Raine slog-sweeping Salter for six over mid-wicket to bring up the 450. Nine runs later their stand ended as Raine swept Salter to Eddie Byrom at deep mid-wicket and became the off-spinner’s 99th wicket in all first-class cricket. Having been joined by Matty Potts, Trevaskis on-drove Douthwaite for four as Durham reached 475-8 at tea.

Lunchtime Report

The opening day of this Division Two contest was a chastening one for Glamorgan who, after being dismissed for 97 shortly after lunch, then saw Durham ease to 223-3 by the close of play. Hoping that today’s play might replicate yesterday’s with a clutch of wickets before lunch, the visiting bowlers were seeking early wickets in the quite murky conditions after morning drizzle and with the new ball likely to be taken in the second hour.

Timm van der Gugten and Michael Hogan resumed the bowling this morning with David Bedingham, following his salvo of boundaries last night, also poised to become the country’s first batsman to reach 1,000 first-class runs for the season. It was Sean Dickson though who found the boundaries in the opening overs as he square-cut Hogan before nurdling him to third man. However, there was little on offer as the two seamers bowled a probing line and length this morning with a series of maidens, and their accuracy was rewarded as Hogan bowled Bedingham during the sixth over of the morning as the South African attempted a drive against the veteran.

Shortly after being joined by Ned Eckersley, Dickson sustained a leg injury as he completed a single with his partner and after treatment, Michael Jones re-appeared as his runner. Eckersley then found the ropes as he clipped Hogan to mid-wicket before punching van der Gugten off the back foot through extra-cover. Dickson showed no ill effect from his injury as he greeted the introduction of David Lloyd into the attack by twice driving him through extra-cover.

Andrew Salter also had a brief spell before the introduction of the new ball and was drilled through the covers by Eckersley who also nearly edged the spinner to Lloyd at first slip with the ball racing away to the ropes at third man. Dickson again drilled Lloyd through the covers before straight-driving Salter for six to bring up the fifty stand. He followed this with a rasping square-cut against Lloyd before the new ball was taken after 80 overs with Durham on 295-4 as Lukas Carey and Hogan returned to the fray.

Eckersley punched Carey through the covers for four as he saw Durham to another batting point, but soon afterwards, Hogan yorked Dickson to end his stay in the middle. Paul Coughlin was the new batsman and he announced his arrival with a fierce square-cut against Carey before Eckersley survived a loud l.b.w. appeal against Hogan shortly before completing a 68-ball fifty.

A doughty seventh wicket stand of 163 between Dan Douthwaite, who made a Championship-best 96 and Andrew Salter who is unbeaten on 82 helped Glamorgan reach 333-7 at the end of the third day of their LV=Insurance County Championship match against Durham at a sunny Emirates Riverside, with the Welsh county trailing the home side by 73 runs.

Close of Play Report

A stubborn seventh wicket stand between Dan Douthwaite and Andrew Salter had taken Glamorgan to 239-6 at tea, trailing by 167 runs, with Chris Rushworth and Ben Raine resuming the bowling duties. Douthwaite square-drove Raine for four before Salter pulled Potts for four before edging Raine to first slip where Bedingham spilled the low chance. Salter clipped Rushworth to mid-wicket for four to bring up the century stand from 234 balls.

Douthwaite then clipped Raine for four before salter completed his fifty from 132 balls by on-driving Raine. Douthwaite found the ropes again as he flicked Raine to fine-leg before salter edged Potts through a vacant third slip with the ball speeding away for four. Liam Trevaskis then returned to the attack in the 100th over with Salter straight-driving the left-arm spinner for four. Douthwaite then pulled Potts for four before straight-driving Coughlin to reach a Championship-best score of 89. He then pulled Coughlin for four to mid-wicket to see Glamorgan to 300 in the 103rd over, besides bringing up the 150-run stand.

Salter celebrated by biffing Trevaskis for another straight four with his controlled aggression also bringing the deficit below 100. Borthwick also brought himself back into the attack in a bid to end the partnership but it was Trevaskis who ended the stand after 348 balls as Douthwaite, on 96 after some stubborn defense, tried to loft the spinner over long-on but holed out to Potts who was running back at mid-on.

Timm van der Gugten joined Salter and began by punching Borthwick off the back foot through extra-cover for four before Salter pulled Potts for four before both defended stoutly to take the game into a final day – a scenario that had seemed unlikely when Glamorgan had slipped to 151-6 shortly after lunch.

Afternoon Report

Glamorgan resumed on 145-5 after lunch, still 261 runs in arrears, with Matty Potts and Paul Coughlin performing the bowling duties as Chris Cooke and Dan Douthwaite looked to continue their sixth wicket stand. Douthwaite guided Potts to third man for four but Coughlin struck with his fourth delivery as Cooke edged a drive into Ned Eckersley’s gloves.

Andrew Salter began by on-driving Coughlin before defiantly pulling Potts for four to mid-wicket. Dan Douthwaite repeated the stroke just over the head of Rushworth before Liam Trevaskis’ left-arm spin was introduced in the 61st over. With Salter defending stoutly, Douthwaite square-drove Raine for a couple of fours before guiding him to the vacant ropes at third man, followed by a crisp cover drive against Trevaskis. Scott Borthwick nearly had Salter caught behind in his opening over with the wicket-keeper unable to cling onto the ball before Coughlin returned to the fray and was flat-batted through the covers by Salter as the total reached the 200-mark in the 75th over.

Salter also clipped Coughlin to fine-leg for four before pulling his next ball to mid-wicket as he made hay before the new ball was taken after 80 overs with Rushworth and Potts returning to the fray. Douthwaite edged Rushworth to third man to complete a 92-ball fifty before Salter cover drove and straight drove Potts for well-timed fours. Douthwaite also drove Rushworth to the ropes at mid-wicket before outside-edging Potts for fours as their stand became Glamorgan’s best seventh wicket stand against Durham breaking the 79 added by Alun Evans and Adrian Shaw at Cardiff in 1999.

Lunchtime Report

With the Emirates Old Trafford having one of the ends named in honour of James Anderson, a man who currently has 1018 first-class wickets to his name at an average of 24, there are Durham folk who believe that it would be fitting if the same were to happen at the Emirates Riverside in recognition of Chris Rushworth, who has taken 559 wickets at an average of just 22 during his outstanding career.

In some ways, it would be absolutely fabulous if the Lumley End, named after the Castle overlooking the ground (rather than the actress!) were renamed in honour of Rushworth. But, in this match, the veteran seamer has posed problems for the Glamorgan batters when bowling at the Finchael End and it was here that the veteran began this morning with Matty Potts bowling at the Lumley End as the Welsh county began still 335 runs in arrears. Hamish Rutherford cover-drove Rushworth for the day’s first boundary before later in the over nurdling him to the vacant third man boundary as well as punching him off the back foot through extra-cover.

The Kiwi completed his half-century by clipping Potts to square-leg for two – his 86th delivery – before on-driving him for four. Rutherford greeted the introduction of Ben Raine by cutting him through backward point for four but with the total on 99, Byrom who had played watchfully for the first forty minutes, without adding to his overnight score, inside edged a ball from Coughlin onto his stumps. 99-3 saw Kiran Carlson join Rutherford and, three overs later, he was dropped at first slip by David Bedingham. Carlson celebrated his good fortune by swatting a wide delivery from Coughlin through point for four, with Rutherford also pleasantly on-driving Raine for four.

Rushworth then returned at the Lumley End with Potts switching to the Finchael End, with the former finding the outside edge of Rutherford’s bat with the ball ballooning over the head of short extra-cover. Carlson then drilled Potts through the covers for four but Rushworth duly claimed his 50th wicket of the season as Rutherford chipped a ball to Lees at mid-wicket. 128-4 then became 128-5 as next over Raine returned to bowl Carlson. Dan Douthwaite began with a pair of fours to third man and then square-leg as Glmaorgan reached lunch on 145-5 from 52 overs.

Durham beat Glamorgan by an innings and 42 runs on the final morning of their LV=Insurance County Championship match at Emirates Riverside, with the Welsh county dismissed for 364 with Andrew Salter scoring a career-best 90.

Close of Play Report

Although Durham have enjoyed the better of seven of the nine sessions so far in this contest, there was solace for Glamorgan’s supporters after lunch yesterday as Dan Douthwaite and Andrew Salter shared a stubborn seventh wicket stand of 163 with the pair helping to whittle away the deficit by the close of play to 73 runs. Their doughty efforts came as the Welsh county faced a first innings deficit of 406 which, by one run, had expunged the away game with Nottinghamshire in 1929 from the Club’s record books and a match which had seen Glamorgan suffer injuries to their bowling attack before their batting had been filleted by the England duo of Harold Larwood and Bill Voce.

By a stroke of coincidence, Trent Bridge had been the venue where, three weeks ago, Andrew Salter has enjoyed one of his finest days so far in a Glamorgan shirt as he won the Man of the Match Award in the Royal London Cup final against Durham. The same opponents could occupy another highs point in the career of the 28 year-old as he began this morning six runs short of his Championship-best score of 88 made against Gloucestershire at Cardiff in 2017 and eighteen runs away from becoming the first Pembrokeshire-born cricketer to score a Championship hundred for the Welsh county.

He duly resumed his innings this morning with Timm van Gugten against the bowling of Chris Rushworth and Paul Coughlin. The Dutchman twice edged the latter through the slips for a couple of fours besides clipping a full toss to square-leg before Salter slapped Coughlin through extra-cover for three followed by a series of singles. But on 90 he edged Coughlin into the gloves of Ned Eckersley having batted for four and three-quarter hours.

358-8 then became 359-9 as Rushworth bowled Lukas Carey with Michael Hogan making his way to the middle with Glamorgan still 47 runs in arrears. He began by drilling his first delivery through mid-off for four but next over edged a ball from Coughlin and Eckersley took a spectacular one-handed catch to end the game after ten overs this morning as Durham celebrated an innings victory.