Rain limits play on Day Two

Only one full session was possible on Day Two of the Bob Willis fixture between Derbyshire and Durham at Emirates Riverside. 

The first two hours of the day went by uninterrupted, as Paul Coughlin (90) and Ned Eckersley (78 not out) helped Durham to a score of 337-9, before rain halted proceedings just three overs after lunch.

Matt Critchley (4-53) claimed his third and fourth wickets of the innings before the interval, while Ed Barnes (1-43) managed to earn himself a dismissal shortly before the players left the field.

Coughlin and Eckersley returned to the crease on the second morning, and it took less than an over for the former to reach his half-century, hitting a couple of fours off Ben Aitchison.

Eckersley, who had been cautious in his approach on the opening day as he steadied the Durham innings, remained comfortable in the middle, and he reached his own 50 in 139 balls, including just a single boundary.

The pair moved their partnership (157) into three-figures, and then beyond 150 as Derbyshire struggled to break down their defences in the morning session, but wickets have tended to come in clusters during this game, and it was no different when Coughlin (90) was bowled by Critchley for his highest first-class score.

Critchley ensured that Billy Godleman’s side would end a frustrating session strongly when he bowled Matthew Potts (0) just two balls after the Coughlin dismissal, but Derbyshire would fall one wicket short of maximum bowling points.

Rain delayed the start of the afternoon session, and the players would only return to the field for three overs before the weather struck once again, although in that time, Barnes claimed his first of the match as Matt Salisbury (4) was caught by Wayne Madsen.

When the players departed the field, Durham were 337-9 from their 114 overs, with Eckersley (78 not out) and Chris Rushworth (2 not out) unbeaten, and they would not return before stumps, just after 5.30pm.

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