Sussex expose Durham’s fragility with the bat in rain

Sussex exposed Durham’s fragility with the bat on the first day of their Specsavers County Championship Division Two match at Emirates Riverside.

Durham were inserted following an uncontested toss and were put on the back foot by impressive bowling.

David Wiese led the way with 3-12, while Ollie Robinson also notched a couple of wickets.

Durham have struggled with the bat at home this season, accumulating just two points.

Only one over of play was possible in the morning session due to bad light.

Cameron Steel successfully negotiated the spell from Robinson, although he did get off the mark by edging through the slips to the boundary.

Durham’s problems began almost immediately after lunch. Alex Lees drove at a fully Jofra Archer delivery, edging to Phil Salt at third slip.

Will Smith became Robinson’s first victim following the opener back to the pavilion in the following over, while Graham Clark was undone by a good delivery as Harry Finch took the catch at second slip.

Steel and Michael Richardson were able to offer brief resistance, producing a partnership of 42 runs, using the short boundary to their advantage to attempt to swing momentum back in Durham’s favour.

However, Wiese struck as Richardson fell for 23 driving loosely at a wider delivery. Steel followed in the next over to begin a collapse, falling to Chris Jordan.

Axar Patel found the boundary twice early in his innings before being bowled by Wiese. Captain Paul Collingwood tried to see out the ses- sion, but left a straight ball from Wiese to become the seventh wicket of the day.

Rain prevented any further play, much to relief of the home side in their attempt to salvage a meaningful score from their first innings.