POTTS SPELL DENIES GLAM AN AWAY WIN
MATTHEW Potts enhanced his England credentials by claiming career-best figures to inspire Durham to a dramatic 58-run victory over Glamorgan on the final day of their LV= Insurance County Championship Division Two clash at the Riverside.
Potts was in breathtaking form and took five wickets on the final day – having previously claimed two in the evening session of day three – and ended the innings with figures 7-40 and match figures of 11-101.
Glamorgan were to rue a collapse from 65-2 to 137 all out in pursuit of their victory target, a slump that began when Marnus Labuschagne was out from the penultimate ball of day three.
Once Potts made inroads in the early overs of the final morning, the momentum was with the home side.
The England hopeful blew away the Welsh county’s resistance that should surely put him on the path to be included in team-mate Ben
Stokes’ first squad as captain.
More importantly for Durham, it ended a run of five matches without a win in the County Championship to propel them up into third place in the table.
Durham required a fast start to put the pressure on the visitors. Potts answered the call for his team, producing a vicious bouncer that caught the glove of Kiran Carlson.
Carlson was not thrilled with the decision, but Alex Wharf raised his finger.
Potts then prised out Sam Northeast, who had looked comfortable at the crease.
Scott Borthwick initially spilled the catch, but managed to clamp his legs together to claim the ball at the second attempt to send Northeast on his way for 26.
Potts made way after his initial burst, but Brydon Carse ensured that the intensity from the hosts did not wane.
He bowled with pace and accuracy after struggling in the first innings.
An array of short-pitch bowling ended Billy Root’s stay at the crease for 10 as he gloved one behind, attempting a hook shot that had previously brought him a boundary earlier in the over.
Sensing another opportunity, Borthwick brought Potts back into the attack for a short spell. And the 23-year-old claimed his fourth fivewicket haul of the season when he pinned Glamorgan skipper David Lloyd lbw. Lloyd, who usually opens the innings, was batting at eight after suffering an injury on day three.
Carse turned the momentum firmly in the favour of the home side when he found Chris Cooke’s outside edge before lunch, removing the last recognised Glamorgan batter.
Potts sensed blood after lunch, and he drove his side over the line to claim career-best figures by dismissing Michael Neser with a brilliant yorker that caught the toe of the Aussie, before clean bowling Michael Hogan to wrap up victory, sparking huge celebrations from the hosts.