By John Virr – 2nd XI Scorer
Winning the toss on a sunny but cool morning Yorkshire invited Durham to bat first and throughout the day the game was watched by a good number of hardy souls.
Matt Rees, from Castleford , making his debut opened the attack bowling from the Trafalgar Sq end and his opening spell saw him take 1-22 having Fontaine-Jackson lbw for 19. He was replaced by Louis Backhouse, also on debut, and he struck next having Scott Borthwick caught behind by Joe Thompson – Durham 77-2. Mike Finan had Symington caught by Will Luxton at slip and at lunch they were 106-3 from 27 overs.
Opener Ghunman reached his 50 from 67 deliveries with 12 fours but he was the 4th wicket to fall being well taken at 2nd slip by Owen Smith to give Backhouse his 2nd victim – 126-4. This became 139-5 with the same bowler having Killeen caught behind for 35. Backhouse was again in the action when a fine throw from fine leg led to the run out of Bowman (150-6).
Rees returned to the attack and claimed his 2nd wicket having Minto caught at 2nd slip by Smith and Durham were 160-7. Hogg and McAlindon added 50 in 74 balls before the former was bowled by Jafer Chohan for 27 and tea was reached at 244-8 with McAlindon 43 not out.
After tea he and Conners extended their partnership to 50 from 74 balls before Backhouse had McAlindon caught behind. Backhouse missed out on a debut “5 for” when a chance went to ground and it was left to Khan to take the final wicket that of Conners for a run a ball 65. However Durham had added 153 for their last 3 wickets as they were dismissed for 313.
Yorkshire had 15 overs to face in the cold and gloomy conditions and at the close had reached 64 but for the loss of both openers: Luxton bowled for 27 from 24 balls with 5 fours and Noah Kelly caught at point for 15 from 29. Smith is 7 not out and Khan 13 not out.
