Durham v Kent at Chester-le-Street 6, 7, 8 August 2008
Durham 146 (MJ Saggers 4-26) and 108 (RH Joseph 6-32) Kent 78 (CDThorp 4-38, M Davies 5-21) and 133 (R McLaren 44, M van Jaarsveld 53, M Davies 5-24)
Durham won by 43 runs
Durham 17 points, Kent 3 points
It was very wet in the lead up to this match and further rain caused an interruption early on the first morning, then in the following two sessions 15 wickets fell. Having been asked to bat first Durham got to 58 before Michael Di Venuto was dismissed for what turned out to be the top score of the innings, 27. The Kent seamers then made the most of the conditions with Ajmal Khan and Robbie Khan both taking three to back up former Durham bowler, Martin Saggers who took four.
By the close Kent had lost five wickets for just 43 and the next morning they fared no better, falling to what remains their lowest total against Durham. When the home side batted again the struggle continued with only Di Venuto and Will Smith passing 20. Ryan McLaren took three wickets as Robbie Joseph took what turned out to be the best bowling figures of his career in first-class cricket. The seamers were well supported by former England wicketkeeper, Geraint Jones, who took six catches in the innings.
With Kent needing 176 to win Graham Onions claimed two wickets before a run had been scored. After Rob Key had also been dismissed the South African duo of Ryan McLaren and Martin van Jaarsveld added a crucial 62 for the fourth wicket. However, once McLaren was out nobody was able to stay with van Jaarsveld. The second day, on which 23 wickets had fallen, ended with Kent on 116 for eight and still needing 60 runs.
It proved too many when Martin Saggers was trapped leg before by Callum Thorp just 34 minutes into the third day. The match had lasted just 172 overs, but a pitch inspection decreed that no action was necessary, and the official view was that it was excessive swing that had made batting so difficult. Rob Key, the Kent skipper, did not hold back after the match in his criticism of the pitch. In Martin Davies who finished with match figures of ten for 45 Durham had just the man to exploit the conditions. He is the only Durham bowler to have taken ten wickets in a match against Kent.
Less than two months later in the return match against Kent Durham were to secure the victory that sealed a first County Championship title for the competition’s newest participants.