DURHAM v GLAMORGAN

Close of Play Report

Having scored 96 between lunch and tea, Kiran Carlson was looking to consolidate on Glamorgan’s decent position as he resumed after the interval with his team on 256-4, besides further adding to his tally which had taken him to the position of being the leading run-scorer in Division Two of the Championship. It was Billy Root, though, who hit the first four of the session as he cover drove Raine - a shot he repeated in the next over from Miles, who then dropped a sharp chance in the gully as Carlson fended off a ball from Raine.

The visiting captain celebrated his good fortune by steering successive deliveries from McAlindon through backward point for four before Glamorgan secured a second batting point as they reached 300 with Root pulling the young bowler to fine-leg, before reverse-sweeping Patel for four. Carlson also on-drove Patel for four before Root steered a no-ball from McAlindon through the vacant gully for four. He then deftly cut Patel for a couple of fours before cover-driving Scott Borthwick when he entered the attack shortly before the new ball was taken after 80 overs. It had an immediate effect as Raine yorked Root with Chris Cooke joining Carlson with the Welsh county on 340-5.

Having been joined by Chris Cooke, Carlson on-drove de Leede before steering Raine to the vacant third man position as another batting point was secured in the 83rd over. Cooke opened his account with a pair of cover drives against de Leede before Carlson pulled Raine for a single to reach 150 from 200 balls. But later in the over, Cooke was adjudged l.b.w. as Andy Gorvin became Carlson’s new partner. Carlson cover-drove Miles before swatting Raine for four.

However, with the total on 379 Raine re-arranged Gorvin’s stumps before Carlson edged Miles into Robinson’s gloves and departed for 162. Four balls later, Harris was also bowled by Miles before Timm van der Gugten cover drove Miles. Prem Sisodiya also did the same to Raine before being bowled leaving Durham with one over to face.

Afternoon Report

Having reached 89-3 at lunch, Kiran Carlson and Sam Northeast resumed the batting against Craig Miles and Ajaz Patel with the latter being lofted over deep extra-cover for six and to long-off for four by Carlson. Northeast also guided Miles to the ropes at backward point before on-driving the on loan bowler for another boundary. Carlson then reverse-swept Patel for four prior to pulling Miles for six with Northeast also driving Miles and Patel to the fence at mid-wicket.

Northeast also drove Patel inside-out over cover for four before Carlson scythed McAlindon through the gully for another well-timed boundary. He then reached his fifty, from 72 balls, by square-driving Ben Raine before celebrating by reverse-sweeping and cover-driving Patel to also bring up the century stand. A drive to the ropes at wide long-on also followed later in the over but de Leede returned to the attack and saw Carlson - on 67 - dropped by McAlindon at cover as he spliced a short ball from the Dutchman.

The 200 came up as Northeast steered de Leede through backward point before Carlson did the same to Raine. Northeast then pulled de Leede for four to complete his fifty from 85 balls with Carlson safely steering Raine between slip and gully for four to third man, before under-edging a pull to the ropes at fine-leg as their stand reached the 150-mark. Carlson also unfurled a wristy drive through backward point for four against Patel but Miles then trapped Northeast l.b.w. for 60.

Shortly before tea, and with Billy Root as his new partner, Carlson reached his century - his second of the summer against Durham - from 127 balls by cover-driving Miles.

Morning Update

It’s been a hectic three weeks since Glamorgan’s record-breaking batting performance against Sussex at Hove in their last Championship match, with a return to red-ball action seeing the Welsh county without their first-choice openers in David Lloyd and Eddie Byrom, who are both injured as well as Marnus Labuschagne and Michael Neser who are on duty with Australia. Colin Ingram has returned as the overseas batter whilst Prem Sisodiya makes his first Championship appearance since 25 June 2018 when he played against Northamptonshire at Sophia Gardens.

Andy Gorvin and Andrew Salter also returned to the Glamorgan side with the latter opening the batting with Zain ul Hassan against a Durham attack also bedevilled by injury and featuring Craig Miles on loan from Warwickshire. Salter also struck the day’s first boundary as he flayed Bas de Leede square of the wicket in the fourth over, before two overs later cover driving and flicking the Dutch international to the ropes at square-leg for further fours. ul Hassan also guided Ben Raine through backward point for four before guiding Miles through the slip cordon for another boundary.

Salter then survived a couple of confident shouts for l.b.w. against Raine before ul Hassan cover drove Miles. Salter did the same to Stanley McAlindon to bring up the Glamorgan fifty before driving the youngster to the ropes at long-off. But, with the total on 55, ul Hassan spliced a short ball from Miles back to bowler with Ingram making his way to the middle to join Salter who safely upper-cut McAlindon for four over the heads of the slip cordon before twice driving him through backward point. The youngster then delivered a head high full toss which rapped Salter on his gloves but the opener showed that the delivery - called a no-ball by umpire Neil Pratt - had not left any lasting damage as well as making the perfect riposte by drilling the next ball through mid-off.

de Leede duly returned to the attack at the Lumley End and removed Ingram who feathered a catch down the leg-side into the gloves of Ollie Robinson with the Welsh county on 80-2. One run later the same combination accounted for Salter who edged a short ball to the wicket-keeper as Kiran Carlson and Sam Northeast joined forces.

Close of Play Report

Having reached 285-4 at tea, Durham’s fifth wicket pairing of David Bedingham and Ollie Robinson were looking to chisel away further at the deficit. But in the third over of the session, Chris Cooke completed a brilliant stumping standing up to Andy Gorvin as Robinson over-balanced to a leg-side delivery and departed for 102 with his team still 100 runs in arrears.

Bedingham cover-drove Gorvin before Graham Clark clipped Sisodiya for four through mid-wicket as the left-arm spinner returned to the attack bowled in tandem with Carlson - his former colleague at both Whitchurch High School and Cardiff Cricket Club. There was no sentiment shown though by Clark who drilled Sisodiya for four before the new ball was taken after 80 overs with Durham on 338-5.

Bedingham duly completed his patient hundred, from 176 balls, by square-cutting van der Gugten for a pair of fours. Clark also outside-edged the Dutchman for four to the vacant third man before Carlson returned to the fray at the Lumley End with Harris at the Finchael End. Clark swept Carlson for four before lofting him to mid-wicket to complete his fifty from 75 balls.

The deficit was wiped off as Clark late-cut Harris for four - a stroke which also brought up the 100 stand for the sixth wicket - and was followed by an off-drive for four against the visiting captain.

Afternoon Update

Andy Gorvin completed the over from before lunch with David Bedingham having been joined by Ollie Robinson. Bedingham began with a pair of fluent cover-drives for four against Zain ul Hassan as Timm van der Gugten probed away at the Lumley End and had a loud appeal for l.b.w. turned down against Robinson who also edged the Dutchman just short of second slip with the ball scurrying away to the ropes at third man. The batter celebrated his good fortune by square-driving van der Gugten for four in his next over before Bedingham cover-drove Andy Gorvin for four.

James Harris then replaced van der Gugten at the Lumley End and was cover driven by Robinson, with Prem Sisodiya also returning at the Finchael End. Bedingham straight drove Harris for four before Robinson square-drove Sisodiya, followed by a pair of pulls for four against Harris plus a flick to fine-leg. Bedingham completed his fifty from 82 balls before his partner followed suit from just 59 deliveries as he hooked Harris for another four.

Robinson brought up the century stand with a coruscating cover drive against Zain ul Hassan before thick-edging a pair of drives against Salter for four to third man. Bedingham also pulled ul Hassan for four before Robinson drilled a full toss from Salter through mid-off. Robinson also cover-drove the off-spinner for four before van der Gugten returned for another salvo. He found the edge of Robinson’s bat but the ball evaded Sam Northeast at second slip and sped away for four. Bedingham brought up the 150-stand shortly before tea by driving van der Gugten through extra-cover with Robinson sweeping Kiran Carlson for four to complete his hundred from 93 balls.

Morning update

Glamorgan enjoyed the better of things yesterday as, after Andrew Salter and Zain ul Hassan had diligently added 55 for the first wicket, Kiran Carlson and Sam Northeast added 168 in 36.1 overs for the fourth wicket to put the Welsh county into the ascendancy. The visiting captain also posted his second century of the season against Durham and made them pay for dropping him on 67 and 109, as he reached 162 and, in the process, took his seasonal tally to 633 runs and ahead of Tom Westley’s aggregate of 611 for Essex as the Welshman became the country’s leading run-scorer. However, the complexion of the game changed as Durham took the new ball and saw the Welsh county lose their last six wickets for 50 runs in 12.4 overs as loanee Craig Miles justified the decision for his temporary recruitment from Warwickshire.

Having steered the final ball last night to third man for four, Stanley McAlindon - the night-watchman - departed to the fourteenth ball of the day as he edged Timm van der Gugten into Chris Cooke’s gloves as Michael Jones joined Alex Lees. He began by glancing the Dutchman to fine-leg with Lees also cover-driving for four a trio of deliveries from Zain ul Hassan who had opened the bowling at the Finchael End. Van der Gugten beat the outside edge on several occasions of both batters before James Harris entered the attack and with his second delivery removed Michael Jones who edged to second slip where Sam Northeast completed a superb head-high catch.

32-2 saw Scott Borthwick join Lees who cover-drove Andy Gorvin before the home captain punched Harris off the back foot through point for four. He was fortunate a few overs later to survive a run out chance before cover-driving Harris for four. Andrew Salter then joined the attack at the Finchael End and was lofted to, and over, long-on for four and six by Lees en route to completing a 63-ball fifty.

But with the total on 94, van der Gugten returned at the Lumley End and immediately removed Borthwick who tamely chipped a ball to ul Hassan at mid-wicket as the Welsh county secured a first bowling point. David Bedingham began with cover drives against both Salter and van der Gugten before Prem Sisodiya had a short spell before lunch. But in the final over before the break Gorvin made an importnat breakthrough by bowling Lees for 62.

Evening Report

Glamorgan began the final session on 44-0 still 196 runs in arrears with Miles and Patel continuing the bowling duties. Zain ul Hassan dabbed Miles safely through the slips for four before Andrew Salter on-drove Patel for four to bring up the 50. Ul Hassan then on-drove and reverse-swept Patel for four before pulling Miles for four. He then outside-edged Stanley McAlindon for four to third man as well as cover-driving the youngster, but later in the over he edged a short ball down the leg-side and was caught by Ollie Robinson.

Having been joined by Colin Ingram, Salter punched McAlindon through the covers for four before Bas de Leede replaced him at the Lumley End and removed Ingram with his first delivery as the southpaw square-cut the bowler straight to Bedingham in the gully. 99-2 immediately became 99-3 as Sam Northeast received a brute of a delivery from the Dutchman which scuttled through and trapped him leg before.

Kiran Carlson survived the hat-trick ball before flicking de Leede to the ropes at fine-leg. Salter then on-drove de Leede for four but next over the bowler made the perfect riposte as he uprooted two of Salter’s stumps as Glamorgan lost their fourth wicket on 124. Billy Root duly made his way to the middle before Carlson punched de Leede for four through the covers prior to reverse-sweeping Patel to the ropes. Carlson then greeted the return to the attack of Ben Raine by flicking him to fine-leg for four.

Afternoon Update

Durham began the afternoon on 521-8 - their joint highest total against the Welsh county equalling their efforts at Cardiff in 1992. It also meant they had a lead of 131 runs with Bas de Leede and Ajaz Patel eager to extend it further. Kiran Carlson and James Harris continued the bowling duties with Patel off-driving Harris for four before lofting him to the vacant mid-wicket boundary.

de Leede also pulled a long-hop from Carlson for four before Patel was dropped low down by Cooke as Harris found the edge of the bat. Patel responded by unfurling a laconic cover drive to the next delivery as Durham reached 550 for the first-ever time in Championship cricket against the Welsh county. de Leede then completed his fifty from 94 balls with Andrew Salter and Prem Sisodiya returning to the attack. The latter duly struck with his first delivery of the day as Patel holed out to deep mid-wicket before the former was harpooned over long-on for six by Craig Miles.

He was then dropped in Salter’s next over by the fielder who had been positioned on the boundary’s edge with Miles celebrating his good fortune by lofting Salter for another maximum over long-on as Durham’s lead reached 200. De Leede also swatted Sisodiya over long-on and to fine-leg as the Durham total reached the 600-mark before being dropped again at long-on. De Leede then plonked him over wide long-off for six despite a valiant attempt by van der Gugten to flick the ball into play. Miles then deftly late-cut Sisodiya for four before on-driving Salter for another boundary but Gorvin returned at the Lumley End and ended the innings as Miles scythed a ball to Salter at mid-wicket as Durham ended on their fifth highest total of 630.

There were 42 overs remaining in the day’s allocation as Salter and ul Hassan began Glamorgan’s second innings 240 runs in arrears facing the new ball pairing of Raine and Miles. ul Hassan pulled Raine for four before bisecting first and second slip for a second boundary. Salter began with a flick to square-leg plus a pair of booming off-drives for four against Miles, followed by a pair of nurdls to third man against Raine.

Morning Update

At teatime yesterday, there was an element of symmetry with both team’s first innings with a decent partnership during the post-lunch session helping both Durham and Glamorgan build a decent total. But it was during the evening session that the similarities ended and whereas Durham had taken the new ball and swiftly filleted the Glamorgan lower order, the patient efforts of David Bedingham who dropped anchor for over four and a half hours helped the home side to wipe off the arrears and then with Graham Clark as an able and doughty partner, start to lay the foundations for a first innings lead.

Their combined efforts meant that Durham were 21 runs to the good when play resumed, again under clear blue skies and in sweltering temperatures with James Harris and Timm van der Gugten continuing the bowling. After a period of quiet reconnaissance, Bedingham on-drove Harris for four before completing his 150 from 245 balls. But next ball he feathered a ball from Harris into Cooke’s gloves as Glamorgan secured another bowling point with Durham on 439-6.

Bas de Leede joined Clark with the Dutch international starting with a series of swift singles as Durham reached 453-6 after 110 overs before Andy Gorvin and Kiran Carlson had a spell in tandem. The latter also ended Clark’s tenure of the crease as he had the batter caught down the leg-side by Cooke for 80 with Ben Raine making his way to the middle. de Leede nurdled Gorvin for four with Raine on-driving and cover-driving Gorvin for further boundaries as Durham’s lead reached three figures.

An outside edge for four by Raine against Zain ul Hassan brought up Durham’s 500 with the batter also clattering the bowler through the covers later in the over. But in the penultimate over before lunch Raine tamely miscued a ball back into Carlson's hands as the eighth wicket fell.

Evening Update

There were 35 overs remaining when Glamorgan resumed on 372-7 after tea with a lead of 132 and Chris Cooke was soon into his stride as he cover drove Ben Raine to bring up the century stand. Bas de Leede also returned to the attack as Durham strove to break the eighth wicket stand with Timm van der Gugten on-driving his fellow countryman for four before Cooke square-drove de Leede.

A single from van der Gugten brought up the 400 as the Glamorgan batters continued to frustrate the home attack, with the Dutchman also on-driving Raine and flat-batting Patel through the covers en route to a 125-ball half-century. Cooke square-cut Patel for four before the players shook hands at 5pm as the game ended in a draw

Afternoon Report

Glamorgan began the afternoon session on 250-6, leading by ten runs, with Chris Cooke and Andy Gorvin facing the bowling of Craig Miles and Ajaz Patel with the new ball just eight overs away. Cooke pulled Miles for a pair of fours before nurdling him to third man to complete his watchful fifty from 110 balls. But in Miles’ third over of the session he bowled Gorvin for 12 as Timm van der Gugten made his way to the middle with Glamorgan on 273-7 and 33 runs ahead.

Four runs later Durham took the new ball as Bas de Leede and Ben Raine returned to the attack with Cooke punching de Leede off the back foot through the covers for four. van der Gugten also pulled Raine for four before Stanley McAlindon entered the attack and was clipped to square-leg by van der Gugten as the 300 came up in the 85th over. van der Gugten then repeated the stroke against Raine as well as McAlindon to bring up a doughty 50-run stand and further frustrate the home attack.

With the new ball having done very little, Patel’s spin was re-introduced alongside the seam of Miles with Cooke pulling the latter for four before deftly steering him through backward point for another four. He then guided Miles to third man for four before pulling him to fine-leg to complete an invaluable hundred from 168 balls with his fourteenth boundary.

Morning Update

It was quite a day yesterday for Bas de Leede, the 23 year-old Dutch international who recorded his Championship-best batting and bowling performances Having arrived in the middle with his side on 439-6, he received useful support from the Durham lower order and oversaw the addition of a further 191 as they put the Glamorgan bowlers to the sword, besides benefitting from some dropped catches. Having ended fifteen runs short of a maiden hundred, his day’s work was not over as de Leede struck with his first ball as Colin Ingram square-cut a ball straight to David Bedingham in the gully. Next ball, Sam Northeast departed to a wicked delivery which scuttled through and trapped him l.b.w. before the seam bowler splattered Salter’s stumps - not a bad warm-up ahead of his international duties later in the week in Zimbabwe in the ICC World Cup Qualifiers.

The net result was that Glamorgan began the final day still 81 runs in arrears with just six wickets in hand and de Leede was swiftly back in the wickets as Kiran Carlson, clipped the fifth ball of the morning into the hands of Craig Miles at short mid-wicket. Chris Cooke, the new batter, then edged Raine just short of second slip before Billy Root drilled de Leede through backward point for four followed by a pull to square-leg.

Cooke then greeted the introduction of Craig Miles into the attack at the Lumley End by cover-driving him but later in the over he was struck on his right glove and received treatment from the physio. In Miles’ next over, Glamorgan received five penalty runs as the ball evaded the grasp of the wicket-keeper and struck the unused fielding helmet on the ground behind him.

Ben Raine returned to the attack at the Lumley End and was driven square of the wicket by Cooke who then edged Ajaz Patel just short of the slip fielder. Root then swept the spinner for four before off-driving hm for another boundary, but in the next over he edged a delivery from Raine into Robinson’s gloves as Glmaorgan lost their sixth wicket on 231 and still nine runs in arrears.

Andy Gorvin began by edging de Leede for four as the Dutchman returned at the Finchael End. The arrears were wiped off as Cooke nurdled Raine to the vacant ropes at third man. Cooke then drove Raine through mid-off for four before Gorvin again edged de Leede