Result: Durham (103 & 340; Steel 160, Collingwood 47; Robinson 4/75) beat Sussex (122 & 135; Rushworth 4/49) by 186 runs
Durham secured their fourth victory of the Specsavers County Championship Division Two season, hammering Sussex by 186 runs at Emirates Riverside thanks fine performances from Chris Rushworth & Cameron Steel.
The home side appeared to be in trouble after their first innings after being bowled out for 103. However, Rushworth dug his team out of trouble with an outstanding spell of 8-51 before a brilliant hundred from Cameron Steel put Durham in command on day two.
Jon Lewis’ men set Sussex a daunting chase of 322 in their final innings, and the visitors were never able to threat as Rushworth dominated with the ball, claiming another four wickets to take his tally to 12 for the match.
Axar Patel wrapped up the tail on his final match for Durham, allowing the home side to ease to the victory.
Durham began the day three 201 runs ahead of the visitors, although they lost Patel almost immediately as he played a loose shot against Danny Briggs that landed in the grasp of David Wiese. Steel maintained his form at the crease, notching his highest score at Emirates Riverside on his way to 150.
He produced a stand with Paul Collingwood to edge Durham’s lead towards the 300-run mark, although Steel was to fall to Tom Haines for 160, becoming the 19-year-old’s maiden first-class wicket.
The home side collapsed after lunch losing their final four wickets for four runs to be bowled out for 340, despite a season-best knock from Collingwood of 47.
Sussex lost Phil Salt in the first over of their reply, chasing down 322 for the win. Rushworth burst through his defences to clean bowl the opener for a duck, while Matt Salisbury notched the scalp of Luke Wells in his first over.
Harry Finch came and went leaving a straight delivery from Rushworth, which reduced the visitors to 11-3 and allowed the seamer to claim his 10th wicket of the match.
Haines and Michael Burgess battled at the crease without looking comfortable amid tight bowling from the Durham attack. However, Rushworth’s persistence paid off as he bowled Burgess for 22 before trapping Haines lbw for 40.
The home side seized the initiative to close in on the victory as Patel removed Ben Brown, while Salisbury claimed his second wicket of the innings tearing one through the gate of David Wiese.
Jofra Archer endured a miserable time at the crease at Chester-le-Street. He was bowled for a golden duck in the first innings, while his second attempt proved to be just as unsuccessful as he was run out by Michael Richardson after surviving an lbw shout.
Patel pinned Chris Jordan lbw before Ollie Robinson clipped the left-arm spinner straight to Steel to allow the home side to secure the win by a comfortable margin.
Close, Day Two: Durham (103 & 220/4; Steel 114*, Lees 43) lead Sussex (122; Rushworth 8/51) by 201 runs
Brilliant performances from Chris Rushworth and Cameron Steel led Durham’s fightback on day two of their Specsavers County Championship Division Two clash against Sussex at Emirates Riverside.
After being bowled out for 103, Rushworth was outstanding in dragging the home side back into the contest by claiming figures of 8-51.
Steel and Alex Lees formed a solid partnership at the top of the innings in response & the 22-year-old held his composure to reach three figures for the first time this term, becoming his county’s fifth centurion of the season.
At the close of play the hosts held a 201-run advantage over Sussex with six wickets remaining in their second innings.
Durham began the day 92-7 in need of an effort from the tail to guide them to a competitive first-innings’ score. However, Robinson was able to strike three times, removing Stuart Poynter, Matt Salisbury and Nathan Rimmington, claiming a five-wicket haul and dismissing the hosts for 103.
Sussex were immediately pegged back in their response as Tom Haines edged a Rushworth delivery to third slip in the first over. Phil Salt and Luke Wells attempted to see off the new ball and made steady progress before both players were dismissed in back-to-back deliveries by Rushworth & Salisbury.
Rushworth then took command of proceedings from the Lumley End. His subtle variations in pace and movement have brought the 32-year-old a great deal of success during his career and he notched his 400th first-class wicket for Durham by bowling Harry Finch for 12 with a fine delivery.
The dismissal opened the floodgates to bring the home side back into the contest. Ben Brown and Michael Burgess fell to the seamer, claiming the 21st five-wicket haul in the four-day format.
A brilliant catch by Will Smith at gully sent Chris Jordan on his way, while Jofra Archer lasted only a solitary delivery when he was cleaned up by Rushworth.
Robinson handed the veteran his eighth wicket of the innings, although Poynter and Paul Collingwood had to combine to take the catch behind the stumps. Another scalp would have seen Rushworth claim his career-best figures, but Salisbury ended the innings by trapping David Wiese in front of the stumps, bowling out the visitors for 122 and a lead of 19.
Durham capitalised on their momentum to eradicate the deficit without loss as Steel and Lees built a solid partnership.
The duo put on 72 for the first wicket before Lees was given out caught behind on 43 off the bowling of Robinson.
Archer then accounted for the scalp of Smith to apply pressure but Steel held firm at the other end, reaching his fifty off 78 deliveries with a boundary down to fine leg. Graham Clark struck three boundaries early in his knock, but was pinned lbw by Archer for 21.
Steel continued his impressive knock, making his runs at a good pace to break into the nineties. He was given a life on 95 when he top edged a delivery from Jordan, but Salt running back slipped as he attempted to make the catch.
He made it to his first century of the campaign, reaching the milestone with a boundary through the covers off his 158th delivery.
The partnership between Steel and Richardson was ended on 55 as the former was removed by Robinson. However, Steel remained unbeaten at the close alongside Axar Patel his side well poised on 220/4.
Close, Day One: Durham (92/7; Wiese 3/12) vs Sussex
Sussex capitalised on advantageous conditions by taking seven wickets in the second session of their Specsavers County Championship Division Two clash at Emirates Riverside.
With the first session lost to bad light save for a solitary over & the third lost to rain, Durham made it to 92 in the 27.3 overs possible on Day One.
In bowler-friendly conditions, Sussex captain Ben Brown elected against a toss & following a planned resumption at 11:35am, the sides managed one over before the umpires decided the light wasn’t strong enough.
Play resumed after lunch and the visitors did not have to wait long to make a breakthrough.
Jofra Archer claimed the wicket of Alex Lees, who edged to Phil Salt at third slip after scoring two, & Will Smith followed in the next over as Ollie Robinson found the outside edge with Chris Jordan collecting the catch at first slip.
Durham’s difficulties in the middle continued when Graham Clark edged a fine delivery from Robinson to Harry Finch.
Resistance arrived from the hosts as Cameron Steel and Michael Richardson dug in, making use of the short boundary towards the Newcastle Airport Stand. However, David Wiese broke their stand of 42 as Finch took his second catch of the day at second slip to remove Richardson, while Steel fell to Chris Jordan in the following over.
Axar Patel continued the procession, falling for eight playing a loose drive to be bowled through the gate by Wiese, & Paul Collingwood fell to leave his side in trouble at 92-7 at the end of the session curtailed by rain.