Durham v Gloucestershire at Gateshead Fell. May 19,20,21,23, 1994
Durham won by 108 runs
Durham 305 and 173. Gloucestershire 169 and 201.
Durham 23 points, Gloucestershire 4 points
This was the fourth and final first-class match played at Gateshead Fell. Surprisingly it is the only occasion on which Durham have beaten the west country side at home.
Durham won the toss and chose to bat despite the forbidding presence of Courtney Walsh in the Gloucestershire attack. On a bouncy pitch he was difficult to deal with and finished with 5-88. However, the first day was dominated by Wayne Larkins who demonstrated his enduring class and was the only batsman to pass 30. He became the first Durham batsman to carry his bat in first-class cricket and finished with 158 not out off 265 balls. This remained his highest score for Durham.
Gloucestershire lost two wickets before the end of the first day and then struggled to 129-9. Tim Hancock and Mike Smith added 40 for the last wicket so that the follow on was avoided. Three wickets each went to Simon Brown, John Wood and Anderson Cummins.
Durham’s second innings started disastrously and they slipped to 65-6. However Jon Longley, in his first season at Durham, made 71 not out and with some support from Chris Scott and Anderson Cummins Durham made it to 173. Mike Smith took 5-40.
The target for Gloucestershire was 310 but a successful chase never seemed likely as they lost wickets at regular intervals.
Tim Hancock made 61 but Durham claimed the extra half hour on the third evening with eight wickets down.
Bad light then stopped play. It was a Saturday evening and this was the era when Championship matches were interrupted by a Sunday AXA Equity and Law League match so it meant a return on Monday.
Fortunately, the rain which prevented any play in the scheduled Sunday match between the sides had abated and victory was quickly secured. John Wood was the most successful Durham bowler with 5-48.