Result: Durham (504; Coughlin 231, Steel 95) beat Middlesex (202 & 185; Stirling 86; Trevaskis 6/31) by an innings & 117 runs
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Durham have won the Second XI Championship after Liam Trevakis took six wickets to complete a crushing win over Middlesex.
The left-arm spinner polished off the innings, taking the final six wickets to complete an exemplary performance by Neil Killeen’s side.
After bad light intervened in the morning and Middlesex ‘keeper Tom Lace unable to bat, captain James Weighell took the sole wicket required to make the visitors follow on.
Ireland international Paul Sterling made 86 and Martin Andersson was unbeaten on 45, but regular wickets kept them at bay before the 17-year-old’s spell finished the game off.
It rounds off an exceptional season for Killeen’s men, with the first innings build upon Paul Coughlin’s 231.
That meant a first innings lead of 302 and Weighell elected to make the visitors bat again.
Sterling held up an end well but the lack of substance and support hampered his efforts to save the game.
Max Holden clipped Weighell to midwicket, Ryan Higgins edged Brydon Carse behind while George Scott followed in similar fashion to Jamie Harrison.
The opener raced to 50 and displayed his range of power hitting but it took Trevaskis only two balls to remove him, stumped by young wicketkeeper Eddie Hurst.
And from there it was a procession from there as Trevaskis put the visiting batsmen in a spin.
First team regular James Harris was clean bowled and Don Manuwelge was trapped lbw four balls later for nought.
And two more followed to the left-arm spinner before he wrapped it up, removing the off stump of Arthur Godsal.
Close, Day Two: Middlesex 2nd XI (194/8; Harris 51*; Arshad 4/34) trail Durham 2nd XI (504; Coughlin 231, Steel 95) by 310 runs
Paul Coughlin completed his double century before eight wickets handed Durham a strong advantage in the Championship final against Middlesex.
The 23-year-old made 231, the second highest Second XI score for the county, to push Neil Killeen’s men past 500 in the first innings.
He was eventually the last man to fall, run out seven shy of Mike Roseberry’s record score of 238 for the second string.
And Durham pressed home the advantage with the ball, reducing the visitors to eight down and still trailing by 310 with James Harris (51*) the only batsman to offer real resistance.
They were four down at tea as young wicketkeeper Eddie Hurst clung on to catches off James Weighell and Josh Coughlin, while Usman Arshad dismissed Irish international Paul Sterling lbw for ten.
However, the big wicket was Ryan Higgins as the number three was run out on 12 after making a mammoth 303* in a Second XI fixture last week.
And 106/4 at tea became 106/7 as Arshad struck three times in an over.
Ravi Patel made 31 in a partnership of 55 with Harris but George Harding had him caught behind before the close of play.
Earlier in the day, Coughlin was more cautious in than the previous day in reaching 200 and was well accompanied by Hurst in a stand of 78 for the eighth wicket.
Close, Day One: Durham 2nd XI (408/6; Coughlin 179*, Steel 95) vs Middlesex 2nd XI
Paul Coughlin struck a majestic 179* as Durham’s second string opened strongly on the first day of their Championship final against Middlesex at Emirates Riverside.
Coughlin shared a partnership of 215 with opener Cameron Steel as Neil Killeen’s men made hay under the Durham sunshine.
Steel, an ex-Middlesex batsman, fell five shy of his century as the second new ball spell yielded four quick wickets for the visitors.
But despite playing as a batsman-only as the medical staff continue to manage his workload, Coughlin ensured his influence would still be hugely significant on this fixture.
Put into bat by Middlesex skipper Max Holden, the opening partnership between Steel and Hickey contributed a solid 47 until Hickey was trapped lbw in Arthur Godsal’s first over.
Steel looked particularly proficient through the leg side and looked to have seen it through to lunch until Liam Trevaskis was caught behind in the final over before lunch.
But that brought Coughlin to the crease and the pair batted over 50 overs together, seeing out the entire middle session without reward for the Middlesex bowlers.
Shortly after bringing up his ton and with the new ball on the horizon, the all-rounder swatted Ravi Patel for the first six of the game, sending the ball crashing into a pile of beer barrels next to the new scoreboard.
And the new ball proved to have a big effect as James Fuller removed Steel and James Weighell in the first over, the latter offering a return catch from his second ball.
Brydon Carse was bowled by one that perhaps kept a bit low and Usman Arshad soon followed as four wickets fell in three overs.
However, Coughlin soon went back on the offensive to pass 150 and was accompanied by Sameet Brar in an unbroken stand of 75, leaving Durham in a commanding position with three days remaining.