Keaton Jennings and Will Smith were the stars for Durham as the traditional season opener against Durham MCCU ended in a draw with both batsmen scoring their first hundreds of 2013.
Resuming overnight on 101/1 both batsmen were watchful early on, as a refreshed Durham MCCU bowling attack looked for early scalps. Some tight seam bowling kept the scoring rate down but both batsmen dug in and got themselves set at the crease.
The scoring rate soon increased as the Durham pair asserted their dominance on the Durham MCCU bowlers, with the run rate edging above four runs an over. Both batsmen moved into the nineties ahead of lunch and but it was Will that beat Keaton to the hundred mark, as both players made their first centuries of the season in the same over.
Will’s hundred came from only 156 balls as the number three particularly punished Durham University spin bowling attack. Will may have got to the hundred mark first but Keaton got their in less balls, scoring his maiden First Class century in only 150 balls. Once both players got their hundreds skipper Dale Benkenstein felt it was time to give the bowlers their go and Durham declared on 244/1.
The Durham bowlers then were given their final opportunity for practice ahead of the new season and were given a go at their student opposition. Durham MCCU batted well second time around with two key partnerships and a half century for Rishabh Shah. It was Scott Borthwick’s spin that once again caused the students problems, taking three wickets for 26.
With the game heading for a draw and the Durham bowlers getting some valuable practice under their belts, the captains decided to call it a day and shook hands ahead of the scheduled finish time.
The match provided some valuable practice for the squad ahead of the new season and they will all be looking to get their place in the side ahead of taking on Somerset in the LV= County Championship this Wednesday.