Griffiths excels but Durham land comeback win

RESULT | Day 4 of 4, Specsavers County Championship: Durham CCC 184 & 403 (f/o) beat Leicestershire CCC 440 & 101 by 46 runs

SCORECARD | Available through ESPN Cricinfo

REACTION | Head Coach Paul Nixon spoke to BBC Radio Leicester’s Richard Rae at stumps

HIGHLIGHTS | In-play highlights are available throughout the 2018 season

POINTS | Durham CCC 18 points, Leicestershire CCC 6 points

REPORT | Seventeen wickets fell in the space of 53 overs as Durham CCC battled back to land a Specsavers County Championship victory against Leicestershire CCC.

There was a steady opening session at Emirates Riverside but the game burst into life as two 24-year-olds produced outstanding spells of seam bowling to end with career-best figures.

Gavin Griffiths was undoubtedly the star of the show for the Foxes, taking five wickets in the space of four overs in the afternoon session en route to an outstanding haul of 6 for 49.

Durham CCC slipped from 323 for 3 to 345 for 8 in the process and were indebted to the contribution of James Weighell. The all-rounder made 38 at number eight to ensure the Foxes had a chase of 148 from 46 overs, and then snared a brilliant 7 for 32 to secure victory for his side.

It meant that Leicestershire CCC suffered the harshest of setbacks after dominating the game for long periods. The result was particularly cruel on Griffiths, who returned a best ever match haul of 10 for 83.

Durham CCC’s second innings took the shape of Leicestershire CCC’s first, as although nobody reached three figures, significant contributions were provided by top order trio Aiden Markram (94), Cameron Steel (86) and Will Smith (74).

The Foxes immediately took the new ball as they went in search of wickets on day three. Varun Aaron and Ben Raine found significant swing straight away. 

Smith was slightly fortunate in the first over when a cut through point narrowly evaded the fielder. The No. 3 reached his half- century as a thick outside edge from a Raine delivery went for four, his landmark coming from 87 balls (9x4).

The breakthrough came as Raine ended Steel’s 282-ball vigil after rapping the opener on the pads. Parkinson came on for his first bowl of the session just after half past 12 and built on the breakthrough, getting a ball to turn to take the edge of Graham Clark (25) as Colin Ackermann did the rest at first slip.

At lunch Durham was 67 runs ahead at 323 for 3 with Smith unbeaten on 74 and Paul Collingwood 10 not out. The hosts would have been content with that position but it was soon to change as Griffiths wreaked havoc. Neil Dexter took an athletic catch in the gully to dismiss Smith without addition to his score.

Griffiths took two more wickets in his next two overs as Michael Richardson (0) drove to Dexter, again positioned at gully, while Paul Collingwood (15) flicked one off his hips straight to Colin Ackermann.

The on-song seamer then ensured career-best figures for the second time in the match in completing his maiden first-class five-for. Stuart Poynter (13) departed lbw before Nathan Rimmington (0) nicked his first delivery to Paul Horton at first slip.

Weighell and Barry McCarthy frustrated the County bowlers by being both positive and difficult to dislodge. Michael Carberry threw Ackermann the ball, and in his first over the off-spinner completed a return catch after a leading edge from McCarthy (16). Griffiths fittingly had the final say by clean bowling Weighell. 

An early tea was called and Leicestershire CCC moved steadily to 19 without loss. But Chris Rushworth made early inroads and Weighell then bowled the spell of his life.

Horton (9) was the first wicket to fall after edging a Rushworth delivery to Collingwood at first slip. The opening bowler also trapped Ackermann and Lewis Hill lbw for 5 apiece, while Weighell had Cosgrove (10) caught in the gully between those wickets.

Carberry (22) and Dexter added 14 before the skipper was leg before to Weighell, and the Middlesbrough-born seamer struck on five further occasions. Eckersley (15) tickled one down the leg-side, Raine (4) nicked to slip, Dexter (21) was bowled, Parkinson (4) clipped to mid-wicket, and Aaron (0) fell leg before as the home side completed their superb comeback.

TEAM | Carberry (capt), Horton, Ackermann, Cosgrove, Eckersley (wk), Dexter, Hill, Raine, Parkinson, Griffiths, Aaron.

FIGURES | 1st innings: Aaron 17-2-72-2, Raine 15-3-39-3, Griffiths 12.3-3-34-4, Dexter 6-3-9-1, Parkinson 4-0-13-0.

2nd innings: Aaron 22-0-102-0, Raine 31-7-71-1, Griffiths 21.4-6-49-6, Dexter 14-3-31-0, Parkinson 37-12-101-2, Carberry 2-0-7-0, Ackermann 2-0-6-1.

PHOTO | Thanks to John Mallett for the photo of Gavin Griffiths

* Leicestershire CCC is next in action at home to Glamorgan CCC in the Specsavers County Championship on Friday. The match will be streamed live through our partnership with deeserve, and you can join Team Leicestershire as a Member for the 2018 season online HERE