Glam put the brakes on Durham

NEEDING a victory to keep alive their slim hopes of promotion from Division Two of the Specsavers County Championship, Glamorgan put the brakes on hosts Durham on the opening day at the Riverside Ground.

Batting first after Glamorgan elceted to field following an uncontested toss, Alex Lees scored an unbeaten 41 by lunch to hand Durham a solid start.

Durham’s opening stand was broken in the third over when Michael Hogan pinned Cameron Steel lbw for a duck with a delivery that nipped back.

Lees settled into his innings, using the short boundary to his advantage, although Hogan did have a good lbw shout turned down by Neil Mallender.

Glamorgan notched their second wicket of the session as Angus Robson edged a Lukas Carey delivery to Kraig Brathwaite at second slip.

However, BJ Watling joined Lees in the middle, and the two players ensured that the hosts made it to lunch without further damage, establishing a partnership worth 42 for the third wickets by the end of session.

Lees was dismissed for 45 when Hogan returned to the attack and Jack Burnham was caught by Billy Root off the bowling of David Lloyd for 16 as Durham reached 140-4 at tea.

They had added just three more runs when Sol Bell was bowled by Hogan, who then trapped Ned Eckersley lbw for 7 to reduce Durham to 161-6.

Watling made progress to 83 and at the other end Ben Raine was on 26 as the hosts moved on to 197-6 before bad light forced the players back into the pavilion and stumps were drawn shortly after.