Resuming at 12 without loss, Durham lost their first wicket in the second over of the day when Jones was bowled by Mat Pillans for seven. Clark and Bell advanced the score by 20 before the former was caught at first slip from the bowling of Ed Barnes.
Dominic Leech entered the attack and with his fourth ball bowled Bushnell. Jordan Thompson had Bell lbw in his first over and Leech struck again to have Mackintosh caught at mid wicket by Harry Sullivan and Durham were 53 for 5. Thompson took his second wicket, caught by George Hill at first slip to reduce them to 84 for 6 and at lunch they had reached 108 for 6 with Stuart Poynter 27 not out.
Potts and Poynter took their partnership to 69 before Poynter was caught at point by Tom Loten from the bowling of Josh Sullivan – he had made 53 including 5 fours but had been dropped twice in the three previous deliveries. Potts went on to make 69 unbeaten as Durham declared 16 behind at 206 for 7; tea was also taken at this juncture.
Similar to the start of our first innings eight of the first 13 overs were maidens including the wicket of James Wharton lbw without scoring. Tom Loten and Finlay Bean added 45 before Loten was also lbw for 16. George Hill made 18 from 19 balls but was caught low down at mid wicket and Bean was lbw for 40 including 6 fours at which point we were 87 for 4, leading by 103.
Ben Birkhead was caught at slip without scoring but Jordan Thompson (25 not out) and Harry Duke (14 not out) saw us through to the close at 126 for 5 – a lead of 142.
An interesting final day of the season lies ahead.
John Virr – 2nd XI Scorer
