Tuesday 14th May was a rare visit for us to County Championship cricket at New Road, Worcester for day one of Worcestershire v Durham. Always a pleasure to return to yet another of my boyhood haunts, even though the building of the Premier Inn and adjacent stand in one corner of the ground is not to everyone's taste. The famous view of the Cathedral is still intact and it was a pleasure to sit in the Tom Graveney lounge for a mid afternoon cup of tea looking out on this never changing landmark.
Durham, already struggling somewhat this season, started the game disastrously. Alex Lees, the former Yorkshire player was bowled by Morris for a duck in the second over of the day. He was soon followed back to the pavilion by Cameron Steel and Gareth Harte, both dismissed by captain Jack Leach who was back in action after a very long injury break. What a start for the home side with Durham 14-3.
Things improved however for the visitors with a typical backs to the wall innings from their Australian skipper Cameron Bancroft and an improved showing from Jack Burnham on his return to the side after suspension last season. Together they put on a partnership of 149 against the five pronged Worcester pace attack of Leach, Morris, Barnard, Tongue and Whiteley. It was only much later in proceedings when we saw a few overs of spin from George Rhodes.
Bancroft was finally lbw to Tongue for 70 which had taken him almost three and a half hours, but a valuable innings for his team. Burnham was a little quicker having made 76 in two hours and twenty minutes when caught behind by Cox off Morris. Some resistance from the Durham tail which saw Ben Raine make a very useful 42 and Potts a handy 20 before what proved to be the Worcester hero of the day, Charlie Morris, returned to demolish the last few wickets. He had the remarkable figures of 6-53 on a day which you felt should have belonged to the batsmen. Durham all out for 273.
Worcester only had time for two overs before the close of day one and Chris Rushworth, who we had seen get a wicket with the first ball of an innings at Derby this time got one with the second ball when he had Mitchell lbw. Morris rather reluctantly returned to the action as nightwatchman, but managed to survive until tomorrow.
We returned to Kidderminster the following day for more second eleven action, but at Worcester a rapid match winning innings of 118 by Wessels gave Worcestershire the upper hand which they never relinquished. A first innings lead of 117 was too much as Durham were dismissed for 197 second time around, leaving a winning target of only 84 for Worcester on the last day. Rushworth did not give up without a fight and had splendid figures of 5-28 before the home side won by 5 wickets.
As ever click on the photographs to enlarge them.
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