Result: Durham 2nd XI (391/7d & 236/5d; Steel 65, Carse 54*; Magoffin 2/21) beat Worcestershire 2nd XI (271/5d & 146; Pringle 3/10) by 210 runs
Brydon Carse & James Weighell made a return to bowling as Durham’s 2nd XI completed a fine three days with victory by 210 runs over Worcestershire in the Second XI Championship.
The all-rounders bowled spells of five & six overs respectively, taking a wicket each as the hosts were dismissed for 146 on the final day.
Carse added to his first innings century with an unbeaten 50 second time around, while Weighell made 40 as they capped a highly productive week in the Midlands.
Set 357 to win after Durham had declared earlier in the day, first innings top-scorer George Rhodes made zero second time around as Gavin Main made it 0/1.
The Scot also dismissed Tom Fell & with their two most experienced First XI batsman gone at 8/2, it always looked like a tall order for the Pears.
Carse’s introduction produced miserly figures of 1/4 off five, with the wicket of Ollie Westbury for 21, while Weighell clean bowled Saf Imtiaz en route to 1/14.
With the score at 130/5, Ryan Pringle got the first of three wickets when clean bowling Josh Dell for 49 & the innings folded from there to 146 all out.
Pringle took a further two, finishing with 3/10, while there was also a wicket for George Harding & two for Jack Campbell.
Neil Killeen’s side had added 82 runs to their overnight total before declaring, with Scott Steel’s innings ending on 65 alongside the Carse & Weighell knocks that set up the hosts’ chase.
Close, Day Two: Durham 2nd XI (391/7d & 152/3; Steel 63*; Magoffin 2/21) lead Worcestershire 2nd XI (271/5d; Rhodes 76; Steel 1/6) by 272 runs
Durham’s Seconds head into the final day with a lead of 272 as they aim to push for victory against Worcestershire at Kidderminster.
The hosts declared their first innings on 271/5 with the aim of setting up a competitive final day run chase, a first innings deficit of 120.
George Rhodes top-scored with 76 while the wickets were shared one each between Scott Steel, Ryan Pringle, Gavin Main & Mark Adair.
In reply, Durham closed in a strong position on 152/3 which should see them able to declare relatively early on the third day.
Steel continued his impressive run with the bat, finishing unbeaten on 63 & showing his intent late on with two sixes.
Ryan Pringle made 49 while first innings centurion Brydon Carse is 19 not out at the close.
Close, Day One: Worcestershire 2nd XI (15/0) trail Durham 2nd XI (391/7d; Carse 100, Steel 69, Weighell 56; Magoffin 3/91) by 376 runs
Brydon Carse’s century proved the backbone for a solid first innings effort as Durham’s Seconds declared on Day One against Worcestershire at Blackfinch New Road.
Carse scored exactly 100 & every other batsman reached double figures as Neil Killeen’s side declared on 391/7.
The hosts’ openers saw out a testing nine over spell before the close, reaching 15/0 & still trailing by 376 ahead of the second day.
But on an all-round excellent effort following their pair of T20 wins on Monday, it was Carse who stood out with the bat as he steps up his return from injury.
After being given a solid base from the opening pair of Liam Trevaskis & Ross Greenwell, who scored 43 & 48 respectively, Carse was able to bat throughout the afternoon session alongside Scott Steel, who continued his impressive Seconds form by making 69.
The pair added 110 for the fourth wicket before a 107-run stand with James Weighell (56), with the Stokesley all-rounder also working his way back to full fitness.
Carse fell the ball after reaching three figures on 368/6 & the lower order added a further 23 before declaring, with experienced Australia paceman Steve Magoffin the pick of the bowlers for Worcestershire.