Ben Raine admits Durham are now fully in the Division 2 promotion hunt after going unbeaten in five, following yesterday’s victory over Leicestershire at the Fischer County Ground, Grace Road.
Raine worked his magic with the ball to pick up career best figures of nine for 96, striking with 5/47 in the second innings to help Durham secure their third win of the season and move up to fifth in the Division 2 table.
Raine said: “After we were bowled out for 117 in the first innings, it was a massive turnaround, the biggest I have seen in my career.
“But that’s the way we are at the moment, full of confidence that we can win games from any position.
“We let ourselves down in the first innings because it is a good wicket.
“We were not at our best today with the ball, but we got the job done and getting the wicket of Hassan Azad just after lunch was an important moment.”
Azad has been in form with the bat for the Foxes this season, scoring 729 runs at an average of 42.33, but was dismissed shortly after lunch for 60.
Raine added: “I’ve played a lot against him in my University days when he was at Loughborough, so I know what he can do, and he’s got a big weight of runs lately.
“He is a dogged, tough cricketer who would be the one setting out to bat time, so for me to open up that end was a big moment.
“We’ve managed to turn ourselves round over the last few games and we now feel we are genuine contenders for promotion.”