PATEL HAS DURHAM IN A SPIN AGAIN
WARWICKSHIRE BOWLER WRAPS UP HOSTS’ INNINGS IN KEY CLASH
Jeetan Patel widened Durham’s spin-inflicted wounds when he wrapped up the tail with five for 32 as Warwickshire dismissed their hosts for 207 in their Specsavers County Championship match.
Durham have been spun to defeat on dry pitches away from home in their last two championship games and would not have expected to encounter first-day turn in seam-friendly conditions at Chester-le-Street.
Two teams who threatened to be Division One title contenders went into the match more concerned about avoiding relegation and Warwickshire, who closed on 25 for one, dispensed with the toss.
Play began on time following morning rain, but it remained overcast until lunchtime and Durham had to battle hard to counter the swinging ball.
The hosts were 59 for two from 29 overs at lunch, Keith Barker’s probing 11-over spell yielding the wickets of openers Mark Stoneman and Keaton Jennings, then Paul Collingwood faced 107 balls for 23 on a sunny afternoon.
Adopting his sternest Brigadier Block mode, Collingwood’s only four was a leg glance off Barker from the 67th ball he faced.
Straight after tea he tried to drive Patel and the ball turned to miss leg stump, bringing four byes. This seemed to unsettle the Durham captain, who then sat back to cut, changed his mind and popped up a batpad catch.
That was Patel’s first wicket, but more swiftly followed.
Stuart Poynter and Barry McCarthy, both back from Ireland duty, were bowled, Paul Coughlin skied a sweep to deep mid-wicket and Graham Onions edged an attempted reverse paddle.
Poynter’s recall to keep wicket meant Michael Richardson was free to concentrate on regaining his batting form and he responded with his second championship half-century of the season.
He hit seven fours before sweeping Patel for three to reach 50 off 68 balls, only to depart for 55 when Rikki Clarke stuck out his left hand at second slip to give Barker a third wicket.
Clarke also caught Jack Burnham, who had driven him for two glorious fours on either side of the wicket on his way to 30.
With 12 overs to bat, Warwickshire openers Varun Chopra and Ian Westwood survived until the penultimate over, when Chopra looked surprised to be given out caught behind down the leg side off Chris Rushworth for 10.