Result: Durham 2nd XI (393/5d & 256/5; Harte 96, Coughlin 72*) drew with Yorkshire 2nd XI (508; Lees 202; Whitehead 4/71)
Gareth Harte fell four shy of twin hundreds as the Seconds batted out the final day to secure a high-scoring draw with Yorkshire at Emirates Riverside.
After striking an unbeaten 160 on Day One, Harte backed it up with 96 second time around after the Seconds resumed 115 runs behind.
A partnership of 159 with Josh Coughlin, who made an unbeaten 72, used up over 40 overs to frustrate the visitors following early wickets.
Neil Killeen’s men had dropped to 60/3 & then 88/4 as Yorkshire made a surge towards victory, but Harte & Coughlin resisted it & fought back with aplomb.
The skipper’s innings included 14x4s while Coughlin added 8x4s and a maximum in his knock.
Yorkshire used nine bowlers in search of a breakthrough but it came too late as Harte nicked Jordan Thompson behind.
The pressure was on Durham after the visitors amassed 508 on Day Two, which included 202 from Alex Lees.
Lees’ partnerships included a mammoth 210-run stand with Will Rhodes (77) before a third wicket stand of 136 with Gary Ballance (69) on his return from injury.
Matthew Oswell removed Lees before Ben Whitehead rounded the innings off with four quick wickets.
Close, Day One: Durham 2nd XI (393/5d; Harte 160*, Podmore 51*) lead Yorkshire 2nd XI (34/1) by 359 runs
Gareth Harte amassed an unbeaten 160 as Durham produced a solid all-round batting effort on Day One of the Second XI Championship match with Yorkshire.
The right-hander scored over 150 for the second time this season after making 183 against Northants earlier in the year.
And his knock ensured Durham could declare prior to the close, with Harry Podmore taking a wicket from the final ball of the day to leave Yorkshire 34/1.
Harte enjoyed assistance from the entire batting order. No one scored less than 21 & there were four half century stands, three of which included the captain as he sailed past 150 in the evening session.
The largest was an 125-run stand with Podmore, who passed fifty shortly before the declaration was called.
The other notable partnership came in an 87-run stand with Newcastle CC wicketkeeper Josh Phillipe (37) & Academy prospect Sol Bell (38), while Josh Coughlin also added a run-a-ball 30.
But it was Harte who stole the show in a 234-ball knock which contained 22x4s against a strong Yorkshire side including Gary Ballance & Jack Brooks.