Yorkshire’s bowlers endured a chastening day at the office as Alex Lees excelled against his former county with a superb unbeaten 148 to help Durham take control of this Rothesay County Championship clash at its halfway point.
Yorkshire started day two on 295-8 in their first innings and were bowled out for 307 in the opening five overs, with Dom Bess last man out for 66 to continue his fine start to the season.
Unfortunately, however, Durham then seized the initiative thanks to second-wicket pair Lees and fellow left-hander Emilio Gay, who also recorded an unbeaten 105 as the hosts closed on 264-1 from 63.2 overs – a deficit of only 43.
They shared an unbroken 242 from the middle of the morning through to close of play, which came early because of bad light. There was no play beyond 5pm and 33 were overs lost.
Picture by Stu Forster/Getty Images. Dom Bess ramps a boundary this morning to help Yorkshire pass 300 and secure a second batting point.
This a record second-wicket partnership for Durham in first-class matches against Yorkshire.
The day started with Ben Raine bowling Ben Sears to claim his fourth wicket before his new ball partner Matthew Potts wrapped up the White Rose innings when he had a pulling Bess caught in the deep.
George Hill struck early in the Durham first innings to get the much talked about Ben McKinney caught at second slip as he edged one angled in from around the wicket to second slip, leaving the score at 22-1 after six overs.
Left-handed McKinney, a winter Lions tourist and a centurion in last weekend’s defeat against Warwickshire, is being touted to open the batting for England’s Test team this summer.
Picture by Stu Forster/Getty Images. Jonny Bairstow scrambles to try and run out Alex Lees.
But a 20-ball six will not have advanced his cause, with Hill striking with the new ball.
Hill shared the new ball with Jack White given Ben Coad is resting this weekend.
Debutant New Zealand quick Sears came into the attack first change, and he went wicketless in 12 overs.
Lees was strong on both sides of the wicket but drove particularly well, while Gay was far more circumspect. Lees was at his bullish best in improving batting conditions.
Picture by Stu Forster/Getty Images. Alex Lees congratulates Emilio Gay on reaching his century this evening.
There certainly wasn’t as much life in the Riverside surface today as there was yesterday. The sky was brighter for large parts even if we did take an early tea because of bad light when Durham were 224-1.
Just before Lees hit four fours off a Matthew Revis over which cost 19.
Lees won two Championship titles with Yorkshire in 2014 and 2015 but left Headingley for Durham on loan in 2018 after a loss of form.
Since leaving, he has played 10 Tests for England, been a mainstay of Durham’s progress from Division Two and has also taken on the captaincy in the North East.
Picture by Stu Forster/Getty Images. Captain Jonny Bairstow discusses tactics with Jordan Thompson today.
He survived a close shave with a run out on 67 shortly after lunch and went on to reach his century off 126 balls later in the afternoon.
Two overs were lost to the tea-time bad light break, but when play resumed afterwards, Gay moved to his first Durham century since moving from Northamptonshire late last summer.
This hundred came off 163 balls.
