Durham stand in good stead
DURHAM captain Ned Eckersley hailed all-rounder Paul Coughlin for helping him to put Durham in a strong position going into day three of their Bob Willis Trophy clash with Derbyshire.
The middle-order pair shared a record-breaking seventh-wicket stand of 157 in 49 overs to steer their side to 337-9 at a rain-affected Emirates Riverside.
All-rounder Coughlin posted a career-best 90 from 146 balls while Eckersley was undefeated at the end of day two on 78.
Eckersley said: “I thought Paul changed the momentum of the game to put us in a really good position – and hopefully if the weather holds we can drive that position home.
“It is a good cricket wicket, you can score runs and if you get the ball in the right area you can gain reward.
“There is the threat of more rain in the next two days so the likelihood is we will need to do some bowling as quickly as possible, hopefully knock a few wickets over with the new ball and put pressure on Derbyshire’s middle order.”
Derbyshire would have expected to restrict Durham to a lot less when the day began but their bowling lacked intensity and the second new ball failed to trouble Coughlin and Eckersley.
Coughlin had set the tone by taking advantage of wide balls from Ben Aitchison to drive two fours, the second one taking him to his first 50 of the season and the eighth of his career from 75 balls.
A lofted drive at Ed Barnes only just cleared a Billy Godleman at mid off and Eckersley survived an lbw appeal on 40 when he played across the line at Sam Connors.
Eckersley’s 50, his first of the summer, also helped shift the momentum Durham’s way after Derbyshire reduced them to 155-6 shortly after tea on day one.
A century was beckoning for Coughlin when spinner Matt
Critchley was introduced two overs before lunch.
His third ball tempted Coughlin into a cut but he played on and Matty Potts went two balls later when Critchley turned one past his forward defensive push.
Matthew Salisbury edged Barnes to first slip in the first over after lunch but Eckersley struck the seamer for two consecutive fours before the weather had the final say.