Gay and Bedingham star in Durham's successful chase
Durham’s Emilio Gay and David Bedingham turned a substantial run chase into an ice-cream and Pimm’s knockabout at Chester-le-Street, chasing down a target of 336 to beat Lancashire with 18 overs to spare. Their unbeaten centuries, in a record stand, came at a gallop and Lancashire had no answer, despite winkling out Ben McKinney and Alex Lees before lunch. “The team is starting to believe,” said the Durham head coach, Ryan Campbell. “There’s a feeling of calmness around the group that I haven’t seen in a while.”
Tom Westley and Dean Elgar both made centuries and in process batted Essex to safety against Surrey at the Oval, in a game soaked in sunshine and runs. More than 15,000 people came through the gates over the four days – a record crowd for the 21st century, attracted by the “work from the Oval” marketing and a concerted social media appeal to young people about the charms of the ground. Those who remained at the end may have raised their eyebrows at the bowling combination of not only Dom Sibley and Rory Burns, but also Ben Foakes, who last took a wicket 12 years ago for Frinton-on-Sea.
There were draws in the other three Division One games too. At Headingley Joe Root collected three wickets for Yorkshire as Tom Clark’s 93 ensured Sussex would have no final-day scares, while Nottinghamshire made a much better fist of batting in their follow-on against Warwickshire, Kyle Verreynne leading the way with 115.
Asa Tribe passed fifty for the second time this season, in Glamorgan’s high-scoring draw with Leicestershire on a turgid hybrid pitch.
Gloucestershire have had a tough start to the season, but collected a stonking win against Derbyshire by 10 wickets. Gabe Bell and Will Williams took three wickets each as Derbyshire hustled just enough to make Gloucestershire bat again.
Three results in Division Two, four high-scoring bore draws in Division One. Is it the pitches, the climate, the points allocation? All this and more on Friday when the CC rolls into round five.
Time for me to write up now but thanks for your company this week, it’s been fun. Congratulations Durham, Gloucestershire and Worcestershire. Have a lovely evening.
