Bowlers share six wickets on Day One

Derbyshire claimed six wickets on the opening day of their Bob Willis Trophy fixture against Durham at Emirates Riverside. 

Alex Lees (84) top-scored for Durham, while Matt Critchley (2-43), Luis Reece (2-44), Sam Conners (1-25) and Ben Aitchison (1-32) shared the wickets before rain and bad light ended the day 6.4 overs early.

Paul Coughlin (42 not out) and Ned Eckersley (22 not out) put on 64 runs before the end of the day’s play, leaving Durham 219-6 ahead of the second morning.

Having won the toss, captain Billy Godleman elected to bowl and it took just 14 balls for his decision to be justified, with Conners trapping Sean Dickson (0) lbw on his return to the starting XI.

Michael Jones (2) also fell early when a delivery from Reece crashed into his pads right in front of middle stump, before Aitchison claimed the wicket of in-form batsman David Bedingham (9) caught and bowled, showing brilliant reflexes to take the catch while appealing for lbw.

The pair of Lees and Gareth Harte saw Durham through to lunch, ending the session on 65-3, and they continued to frustrate the Derbyshire bowlers as they steadied the innings.

Lees passed 50 for the fourth time this season, reaching the milestone in 128 balls, including seven fours, while the fifth-wicket partnership moved into three figures before Critchley had Harte (44) caught by Reece.

At tea, Lees remained unbeaten on 83, with Durham 154-4, but his batting partner Stuart Poynter wouldn’t remain at the crease beyond the first over after the interval, trapped lbw by Critchley for seven.

Lees’ brilliant innings was finally brought to an end in the next over, when Reece beat his defences to bowl the opener for 84, leaving Durham 155-6 before rain forced the players from the field in a short delay.

Once the players returned to the field, Coughlin (42 not out) and Eckersley (22 not out) dug in and pushed Durham beyond the 200 mark, seeing the day out to finish 219-6.

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