Tuesday 11th September and glad to be back at the Riverside for day two of Durham v Sussex.
Day one had been a dark and dismal day with only 27 overs bowled and Durham in deep trouble on
82-7 against a Sussex side with promotion hopes, despite now falling behind Warwickshire and Kent.
Ollie Robinson, who had a brief spell with Yorkshire seconds earlier in his career, soon finished off the Durham innings, removing Poynter lbw and clean bowling both Rimmington and Salisbury.
Durham all out for just 103, so no bonus points for them, but a five wicket haul for Robinson, who had figures of 11.4-3-29-5.
So by five minutes to eleven, Sussex were going out to bat with youngsters Tom Haines and Phil Salt.
The unfortunate Haines was on his way back just five balls later when Chris Rushworth had him caught behind for 0. Salt managed to get to 20 before his was well caught by Clark, again off Rushworth and Sussex were 29-2. Worse was to follow with Wells out to the very next ball, bowled by Salisbury as Sussex became 29-3.
Some resistance was shown briefly by Harry Finch and former Loughborough University man Mike Burgess, before Finch became yet another Rushworth victim, clean bowled for 12, shortly followed by skipper Ben Brown lbw b Rushworth for 10 and Sussex at this stage were 65-5. Burgess and Jordan also became Rushworth victims, both out to good catches by Clark and Smith and first innings lead looked in doubt with a score of 86-7.
Rushworth, who bowled unchanged for 13 overs throughout the innings, looked like beating his previous best bowling figures of 9-52. He bowled Archer for nought and then had Robinson caught at slip by Collingwood, after wicket keeper Poynton had flicked the ball in the air. However Salisbury returned to dismiss South African David Wiese, who top scored with 25. The visitors tailenders just scraped a small lead of 19 when they were all out for 122.
Rushworth received a standing ovation from the crowd as he left the field, holding the ball aloft, following a wonderful bowling display with figures of 13-3-51-8. Later in the day it was announced that he had been voted player of the month by Durham supporters and had also been granted a testimonial next season. A well deserved reward for this very popular player with all at Durham.
Chris Rushworth leaves the field after a great bowling performance.
So by early afternoon Durham were out batting again and this time made a much better fist of things thanks to Cameron Steel and Alex Lees. The varied Sussex pace attack did not appear to be getting much movement of the ball after the devastation of the earlier part of the day and it came as something of a surprise when Lees was out to the last ball before tea with Durham on 72-1.
The Yorkshireman obviously did not think he had got a touch when given out caught behind off Robinson, and appeared to be giving the umpire the hard stare repeatedly as he left the field.
Nevertheless he had helped Durham forge a strong foundation for the second innings and during the process passed 5000 runs in first class matches. Cameron Steel, who had played the minor role in the partnership was still there at the close of play, having passed the century mark, as Durham advanced to 220-4.
The following day, when we were back at Headingley for the Roses match, we followed the scores from Riverside closely and were delighted with an all out total of 340, of which Steel scored an excellent 160. Sussex, needing 332 to win, were in deep trouble straightaway when Rushworth and Salisbury blasted out Salt, Wells and Finch for ducks and the total 11-3. Things didn't get much better and despite 40 from opener Haines and 24 from Weise, Sussex succumbed very rapidly to 135 all out.
This time Rushworth was satisfied with just 4-49 as Indian spinner Patel finished the game off with 3-27 leaving Sussex in tatters to lose the match by 186 runs. Full marks to Durham for yet another great fightback, which has become their trademark of the season and to the hero of the hour Chris Rushworth.
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