Batting collapse leaves game finely in balance

A uncharacteristic batting collapse from Durham left Yorkshire with the opportunity to take the game away from the hosts as bad light ended Day 2 early.

Resuming on 42-2 overnight, Durham collapsed to 173-9 as George Hill and Jordan Thompson ran through the batting lineup, only a couple of partnerships providing any resistance.

Ollie Robinson continued his good form with a well timed 44 in a partnership worth 61 with Graham Clark, whilst debutants Bas De Leede and Ajaz Patel added another 54 for the final wicket stand as Durham posted 227, trailing by 27 on first innings.

Ben Raine had Adam Lyth caught in the slips the first ball of Yorkshire’s second innings and Matthew Potts picked up his fifth wicket of the match by removing Shan Masood, before Brydon Carse forced Finley Bean to edge behind to Robinson as Durham threatened to skittle Yorkshire.

However, the experienced duo of Dawid Malan and Jonny Bairstow stuck together and saw the visitors to the close of play on 91-3, a lead of 118, with the opportunity to build a menacing lead and try to force a victory over the final six sessions.

After picking up batting bonus points in every game so far this season, the failure to do so in this game will not have impressed head coach Ryan Campbell, but he will be heartened by his side’s attitude as Raine and Potts refused to give the batters any easy runs to really open the game up.