Durham’s Second XI and MCC YCC have played out an entertaining draw in their three day match at Brandon CC.
Durham bowled first and got off to a reasonable start with the ball on day one after a wicket to skipper Arshad and a run out had MCC YCC 59-2.
MCC then put together a steady partnership going into the lunch and progressed to 134-2 at the break. Just the two wickets fell after lunch with Jamie Harrison and Max Morley registering dismissals, MCC 265-4 at tea.
The visitors then continued to make the most of the batting friendly conditions to get to 317-5 with Foster getting his first for the day. The Durham attack continued to persist in warm conditions but it was the young cricketers who took the points on day 1 finishing on 429-6 at the close of play with Morley getting his second wicket late in the day.
MCC started where they left off in the early stages of day two to add a further 89 runs with Arshad and Bousefield grabbing a couple of wickets but the damage had been done with MCC declaring on 518-9.
Durham started their response well and made their way to 60-0 at lunch with Singh and Turner looking poised at the crease.
After the break Singh was run out for 43 which put a end to the 108 run opening stand the pair had produced. Turner was out caught shortly after for 53, a knock which included 10 fours. Ryan Pringle then came to the crease and made a nice cameo, 45 from 57 with 9 boundaries before he was dismissed leaving Durham 189-3.
Gordon Muchall then arrived to the crease for what was set to be a superb innings right when Durham needed someone to step up and stay at the crease.
Muchall, who has been in good form in the Yorkshire Bank 40 competition, showed his good touch and carried the Durham innings with 145no off 196 balls with 21 fours which got Durham to 354-6 at stumps. Atkinson also chipping in with 24.
Durham declared overnight behind the follow on total having agreed MCC would not enforce the follow on thinking they could extend their lead and give Durham something to chase in the afternoon.
MCC got off to another good start and were 74-1 with Harrison the wicket-taker. The Durham attack then clicked into gear and a flurry of wickets had MCC 110-6 at lunch with two wickets to Pringle and Foster with Morley adding to his wickets from the first innings.
After lunch MCC added a further 33 runs with Pringle (3-34 off 13) and Foster (3-19 off 9 overs) taking another wicket each as MCC declared on 143-8 setting Durham 309 off a minimum of 52 overs on a wearing pitch.
The chase started positively with Singh and Muchall putting together a nice partnership to have Durham 101-1 at tea.
After the final break Singh was out just shy of his century, found short of his crease on 94 with the equation 154 runs required from 26 overs.
Muchall carried on from his good first innings form posting 73 before he too found himself back in the change rooms with Durham 171-3 when he departed.
Pringle, Wallace and Atkinson all made starts but couldn’t stay around leaving the home side 210-6. The next man in Harrison too was also dismissed giving MCC a sniff of victory in the final stages of the match.
In the final eight overs, Arshad and Bousefield remained poised and in control at the crease to bat the final half hour out to deny the young cricketers victory, Durham finishing on 256-7 and the match ending in a draw.