Parkinson Spearheads Second Day Fightback

By Jon Culley

Captain, Callum Parkinson, took three for 45, while Chris Wright picked up two well deserved late wickets, as Leicestershire fought back in the evening session on day two against Durham.

Michael Jones missed out on a second century of the season against the Foxes but the visitors moved into a slender lead as the close fell, albeit with five wickets lost.

The Scotland top-order batter, who made 108 against Leicestershire at Chester-le-Street in April, fell for 97 this time after being dropped on 80, but it was thanks largely to him that Durham closed on 239 for five with a 37-run advantage.

Earlier, England pace bowler Matty Potts had taken six for 52 as Leicestershire were dismissed for 202, debutant Sol Budinger added a single to his 63 not out overnight, but still finished as his new side’s top scorer.

Having resumed on 97 for two, Leicestershire were all out by lunch - albeit one delayed by the fall of the ninth wicket. Following the departure of Budinger leg before in the third over of the morning, they collapsed to 130 for eight, losing six wickets for 31.

Potts wrecked the middle order with three wickets in four overs. Swinging deliveries had Louis Kimber and Harry Swindells caught behind, the latter off an inside edge, before his pace left Ed Barnes surveying his shattered stumps.

Colin Ackermann was leg before playing across one from Paul Coughlin, who picked up a third wicket in the innings when Tom Scriven was caught at backward point off a careless shot.

Landing the final, decisive blows proved more difficult for the Durham bowlers, the last two wickets adding 72 more runs, although Wright was dropped at second slip on 15 before he fell for 29.  Parkinson eked out 31 before a top edge to cover brought his downfall, Potts dismissing both for his second six-for against Leicestershire this season.

The second session went no better for the home side as Durham put on exactly 100 for one wicket, although Leicestershire’s bowlers were a little unlucky. Wright and the left-armer Michael Finan posed problems for the Durham openers, both of whom were fortunate at times. When the ball did find the edge, it went to ground.  Jones reached fifty from 71 balls with eight fours.

In the event, it was after Parkinson brought himself on after 26 overs that they made a breakthrough, the skipper drawing Sean Dickson down the pitch to drive a ball that started wide and turned wider. Rishi Patel held a good catch at backward point.

As Parkinson celebrated, spectators may have been forgiven for wondering why he had delayed his introduction for so long, especially given that the wicket clearly suited him. With the left-handed Scott Borthwick next in, there seemed to be an opportunity.

Nonetheless, after bowling a couple of overs before tea, he went back to seam at the start of the third session, although he should have seen a reward when Jones, on 80, smarting from a blow on the thigh the previous delivery, edged Barnes to first slip only for Kimber to spill a regulation chance.  Wright again looked sharp.

It was 20 overs into the final session before Parkinson bowled again, and again he made an immediate impact as Jones, who had moved to within three runs of a third ton of the season with his 16th four in the previous over, edged to Ackermann at slip.

There was clearly something there for Parkinson, who struck another blow a couple of overs later, surprising Borthwick with a quicker ball that bowled him through his legs.

With the floodlights on but the light still good, the persevering Wright, still finding plenty of movement, picked up two deserved wickets, having both David Bedingham and Coughlinwas caught behind. Nic Maddinson - penalised for an oversized bat against Derbyshire last week - is unbeaten on 37.