Lancashire suffer first defeat of season as 290 run partnership clinches win for Durham
The home side won by eight wickets thanks to hundreds from Emilio Gay and David Bedingham
Durham chased down 336 just two wickets down to inflict Lancashire’s first defeat of the County Championship season.
The Red Rose batted first in Chester-le-Street and posted 370, before bowling Durham out for 295 on day two. Marcus Harris scored a monster 146 for Lancashire, while Matthew Potts contributed a vital 66 to the hosts’ total. Ben Raine took four wickets for Durham while Tom Bailey led with three for Lancashire.
It was a difficult start to Lancs’ second innings with the visitors reduced to 72-6. But, a magnificent first hundred for the club from Paul Coughlin - facing his former side - helped Lancashire reach 260-9 and declare. Coughlin was supported excellently by Michael Jones, who scored 72, and Durham were set 336 to win on day four.
Mitch Stanley bowled Alex Lees for 10 and George Balderson then removed fellow opener, Ben McKinney, for 19 to leave Durham 46-2. However, a colossal partnership between Emilio Gay and David Bedingham followed. Both were there at the end to see Durham home, on 159* and 129* respectively.
For the second game running, there was controversy and confusion around a Lancashire substitution. Spin bowling all-rounder, Arav Shetty, suffered a fractured thumb during the morning session of day two but Lancashire were not allowed to replace him with Tom Hartley, and therefore had no spinner for the rest of the game. Wicket-keeper batter George Bell came in for the injured Shetty.
‘Most like-for-like you could get...’
When asked about that after day two, head coach Steven Croft said it made no sense to him ‘whatsoever’ and told BBC Radio Lancashire: “We requested the next spinning all-rounder to come in, which got denied. Ultimately, we are a bowler down in the game. It feels like a tough one to take really. I know there is a loose, like-for-like tag to it but I don't think it could be any more like-for-like.
“They have gone on a bit of Tommy's test match experience from two years earlier. It is still a tough one to take when you see ones around the country. At the Derbyshire game, someone has got 50 more games than the guy he has replaced, so there doesn't seem to be a consistent theme running through it.
“Again, most people in the ground would've thought Tommy is going to bat in the same position and probably bowl the exact same overs. It is probably the most like-for-like you could get really. It was a great opportunity for him to come in and stake his claim again but unfortunately, they've come to that decision."