Result: Middlesex (121 & 355; Eskinazi 96, Gubbins 91; Wood 5/94) beat Durham (310 & 109; Murtagh 3/29) by 57 runs
Paul Collingwood bowed out of first-class cricket but there was no dream ending as Durham were defeated by 57 runs in their Specsavers County Championship Division Two clash against Middlesex at Emirates Riverside.
Dawid Malan’s men added 100 runs to their total overnight total, despite losing a flurry of early wickets. Martin Andersson notched 34 valuable runs to guide his team into a lead of 167 as Mark Wood claimed a five-wicket haul to skittle out the tail.
Durham lost wickets at regular intervals in their reply as the Middlesex bowlers worked well as a unit to bowl the home side out for 109 to secure the victory, ending their season on a high note. Collingwood’s final bow did not end in the victory the home side looked capable of producing on day one, but his effect on the county will not be easily forgotten.
The visitors began the day 255-2, but were to immediately lose Nick Gubbins, who was only able to add one to his overnight score of 90 before falling lbw to Chris Rushworth. The opener’s dismissal spark a collapse of the middle order as Max Holden and Robbie White quickly followed him back to the pavilion, while Collingwood notched his second wicket of the innings when Dawid Malan clipped a delivery straight to Michael Richardson.
Andersson and James Harris offered resistance to take Middlesex’s lead beyond the 100-run mark. However, their stand was ended when Harris was struck on the head by a bouncer from Barry McCarthy. Harris was removed from the field as per concussion protocol, and was later taken to hospital after it was confirmed that the bowler had indeed sustained a concussion.
Drama ensued on the pitch as there was deliberation on whether Middlesex could name Ollie Rayner as a replacement for Harris, despite not being a like-for-like replacement. Umpires Steve O’Shaugnessy and Michael Gough made the decision to allow Rayner to enter the field as the substitute. After the restart, Wood clean bowled Anderson for a solid knock of 34. The England man found his rhythm, racing in with speed from the Lumley End.
Wood cleaned up the tail to claim his second five-wicket haul of the season. His pace was too much for James Fuller to handle, returning a simple catch to the bowler. The 28-year-old bowled Rayner before Murtagh was caught by Rushworth, wrapping up the Middlesex innings for 355 and a lead of 166.
Alex Lees made quick runs at the start of the innings, but his knock came to an end on 22 when he was adjudged lbw to Murtagh. Gareth Harte and Michael Richardson were unable to provide the resistance needed, both edging behind to Robbie White. Collingwood came to the crease for his final innings. He made 10 before Andersson’s short delivery failed to rise off the pitch and bounced under Collingwood’s bat to end the 42-year-old’s last innings at the crease.
The pressure appeared to be getting to the home side, resulting in the suicidal run out of Ryan Davies. Cameron Steel played a patient knock of 23 from 104 deliveries, but he fell edging Ethan Bamber to Rayner at second slip. Durham’s lower order collapsed as Wood and Matt Salisbury fell without troubling the scorers.
Stuart Poynter was undone by the low bounce from a Murtagh delivery to put the visitors on the brink. Fuller claimed the final wicket when Rushworth chipped into the deep and was caught by Gubbins, allowing Middlesex to successfully spoil Collingwood’s final act at Emirates Riverside.
Close, Day Two: Middlesex (121 & 255/2; Eskinazi 96, Gubbins 90*) lead Durham (310; Harte 112, Richardson 50; Murtagh 4/56) by 66 runs
Middlesex have threatened to spoil Paul Collingwood’s swansong at the Emirates Riverside with a spirited fightback on day two of their Specsavers County Championship Division Two clash against Durham.
The home side boasted a lead of 106 at the start of the day, and through Gareth Harte they were able to extend their advantage. He notched his second century of the campaign before Durham were dismissed for 310, leaving the visitors with plenty of work ahead of them to remain in the game.
Middlesex were able to haul themselves back into the contest courtesy of a fine partnership between Nick Gubbins and Stevie Eskinazi, eradicating the hosts’ lead and handing Dawid Malan’s men an advantage of 66 runs going into the third day.
Durham resumed on their overnight total of 227-5, but were pegged back when Stuart Poynter edged Ethan Bamber behind to Robbie White for 26. Harte kept Durham moving to secure their second batting point, while Mark Wood and Barry McCarthy offered support to the 25-year-old.
The batsman notched the second first-class century of his career, reaching the milestone in 196 deliveries, scoring his ninth boundary to get over the line.
Harte fell two short of his career best made earlier in the campaign against Derbyshire. Tim Murtagh wrapped up the final two wickets, claiming figures of 4-56, although Durham’s first first-innings score of over 300 at home this term handed Collingwood’s side a more than healthy lead of 189 runs.
Middlesex needed to display character in their second innings. Sam Robson and Gubbins dug in the early stages to see off the threat of the new ball.
Collingwood introduced himself into the attack and his arrival broke the partnership after the opening pair had passed fifty together. The Durham skipper nipped one back to clean bowl Robson for 36.
Gubbins joined by Eskinazi, who managed to return to the field after being struck in the head on day one, continued to defy the home side, displaying patience at the crease. Gubbins’ composure paid off as he reached his half-century off 135 deliveries, scoring eight boundaries in the process. The duo whittled down Durham’s advantage to less than fifty as Eskinazi found a rhythm, reeling off back-to-back fours to notch his fifty.
The two Middlesex batsman frustrated the home side’s bowling attack, bringing up their 100-run partnership in 178 deliveries all but eradicating the deficit. Eskinazi began to up the ante to move his way into the nineties, putting his side into the lead, although he was given a life when dropped by Cameron Steel at point. However, Eskinazi fell four short of his ton, clipping straight to Collingwood at mid-wicket, breaking the stand of 159 with Gubbins.
Malan added quick runs towards the close, edging his side’s lead over the 60-run mark. Gubbins was unbeaten on 90 with Middlesex in the ascendancy heading into the third day of the contest with eight wickets remaining in their second innings.
Close, Day One: Durham (227/5; Harte 76*, Richardson 50) lead Middlesex (121; Salisbury 6/37) by 106 runs
Durham have made an excellent start to Paul Collingwood’s final match, producing a strong performance to lead Middlesex by 106 runs on day one of their Specsavers County Championship Division Two clash at Emirates Riverside.
Matt Salisbury rose to the occasion with the ball, claiming his best figures in first-class cricket of 6-37 to bowl out the visitors for 121.
Gareth Harte and Michael Richardson made fifties to lead the way with the bat as Durham bounced back from last week’s disappointment at Grace Road.
Collingwood’s hopes of ending his career in style were dashed when he was dismissed for 32, although Harte was there at the close unbeaten on 76 with the home side ending the day 227-5.
Middlesex elected to bat on a chilly September morning at Chester-le-Street, allowing Collingwood to receive a guard of honour from his team-mates.
A reception fitting for a legend#ThankYouColly #ForTheNorth pic.twitter.com/ge9MRR04QD
— Durham CCC ? (@DurhamCricket) September 24, 2018
Nick Gubbins and Sam Robson made a decent start scoring 32 off the first seven overs. However, Salisbury made the breakthrough, producing a fine delivery to take Gubbins’ edge behind to Stuart Poynter for 19. The 25-year-old displayed a good rhythm after an underwhelming first over and he notched his second wicket of the morning by trapping Robson lbw.
Chris Rushworth beat the bat several times before being rewarded with the scalp of Middlesex captain Dawid Malan.
Salisbury kept bounding in with menace with almost every delivery, accounting for the wickets of Stevie Eskinazi and Robbie White. Mark Wood put Durham in control with the wickets of Max Holden and James Harris.
Durham wrapped up the tail in just 16 deliveries at the start of the second session. Salisbury struck twice in the same to claim his maiden five-wicket haul in first-class cricket, dismissing James Fuller courtesy of a bizarre stroke along with Ethan Bamber. Wood wrapped up the innings when he bowled Tim Murtagh, claiming his third wicket of the day.
The home side needed a response with the bat & Cameron Steel and Alex Lees were composed in the early stages, although both openers were out after making starts as Murtagh and Harris made inroads.
Harte and Richardson held firm at the crease, guiding Durham past Middlesex’s first innings total. Richardson past fifty for the second time of the campaign, reaching the milestone off 67 balls, including six fours. However, he was unable to kick on as Murtagh struck to break the partnership of 89.
Richardson’s dismissal brought the arrival of Collingwood, who received his second guard of honour of the day – this time from the visiting side. Harte eased the pressure on his skipper playing two fine strokes to reach his fifty off 98 balls.
Collingwood was dropped on nine by Eskinazi, who took a blow to the face in the process, forcing him to exit the field. The Durham skipper played a couple of crisp drives through the covers before he fell for 32 to Bamber – leaving the crease at Emirates Riverside for potentially the final time.
Harte continued his innings unbeaten with Poynter at the end, with Durham boasting a healthy lead of 106 runs at the close.