Result: Durham 2nd XI (434/3; Harte 183, Jones 172) beat Northants 2nd XI (124 & 250; Kettleborough 150*; Reeves 6/79) by an innings and 60 runs
Neil Killeen’s Second XI began their Championship defence with an innings victory over Northants at Campbell Park.
Having declared on 434/3 early on the second morning & then bowled the hosts out for 124, Durham were chasing ten wickets on the final day.
James Kettleborough, the Northants opener, scored an unbeaten 150 to hold off the advances but failed to find any support.
Stephen Reeves finished with a six-wicket haul as Killeen’s men got off to a winning start.
Gavin Main removed Kettleborough’s fellow opener, Ben Shoare, early on but he did receive some help from the top order.
However, with the hosts in a precarious position, they did not stick around long enough and regular wickets throughout the day meant Durham were always in the driving seat.
The final five wickets fell within ten overs with Reeves, a slow left-arm bowler, running through the lower order in quick fashion.
The Seconds’ next game is at Emirates Riverside next week as they host Nottinghamshire.
Close, Day One: Durham 2nd XI (430/3; Harte 183, Jones 172) vs Northants 2nd XI
Gareth Harte & Michael Jones combined for a mammoth 326-run opening partnership on Day One of the 2nd XI Championship match at Northants.
The openers put Durham in firm control as Neil Killeen’s side racked up 430 on the first day of their title defence.
Harte was the aggressor, reaching his 183 from 218 balls with 25 boundaries, while Jones fell with two overs remaining in the day, his knock coming in 298 balls.
It was a second ton in three weeks for Ormskirk CC’s Jones, who impressed in scoring a ton against Killeen’s side for Scotland ‘A’ at Emirates Riverside.
The pair fell short of the club record stand for the Second XI, an opening partnership worth 438* between Stewart Hutton & Mike Roseberry against Glamorgan in 1998.
But they have put the Seconds in total command, bouncing back from the disappointment of yesterday’s Trophy defeat against the same side.
They reached 211 at lunch and pressed on afterwards, reaching their respective centuries later in the afternoon.
Adam Hickey was the other man to fall for seven with Ben Compton finishing 35 not out.