Derbyshire resume their Specsavers County Championship campaign with a visit to the North-East for their 24th first-class encounter against Durham; starting on Monday 28 August.
Heritage Officer, David Griffin, looks at the statistical background to the game.
Durham were the 18th – and to date, final – county to be admitted to the first class ranks in 1992, when the sides first met in a drawn game at Queen’s Park, Chesterfield.
Their maiden first-class fixture in Durham took place a year later when the sides played out a draw at The Racecourse Ground, Durham, although subsequent matches in Durham took place at Darlington (twice), and at the purpose-built headquarters ground at Chester-le-Street.
This will be the ninth game at the Durham headquarters, and while the home side have usually had the better of these games, Derbyshire did triumph twice, in 2001 and 2004.
The most recent championship game at Chester-le-Street took place in 2013, when both sides were in Division One, with the home side winning despite Mark Footitt’s 6-53 in the first innings.
The most emphatic Derbyshire win came in 2004 when, despite being bowled out for 195 in their first innings, Derbyshire recovered to win by 165 runs. Only Gait, Welch and Botha managed double figures in that first innings, but Mo Sheikh, with 4-9 from 11 overs, was the stand-out bowler as Derbyshire managed to bowl out the hosts for only 91.
Derbyshire then piled on the runs in their second innings, with Jon Moss earning the batting plaudits with 147 not out in almost six hours.
Needing 445 to win, Durham – with future Derbyshire player Marcus North top-scoring with 68 – were bowled out for 279 with Paul Havell taking 4-75 and Graeme Welch 3-56, as Derbyshire triumphed inside three days.
Four Derbyshire batsmen have scored hundreds at Chester-le-Street – Chris Adams, Michael Di Venuto (twice), Steve Stubbings, and the aforementioned Jon Moss, while Graeme Welch’s 6-30 in 2001 remains the best bowling analysis for Derbyshire in Durham. Welch also took five wickets in an innings at Chester-le-Street in 2003, with Ian Hunter (2005) and Kevin Dean (2001) also achieving the feat in addition to Footitt’s effort in 2013.
Supporters can save £4 by purchasing their matchday tickets in advance of the day of the game. Buy online, over the phone by calling 01332 388 101 or in person at The 3aaa County Ground.
