Ton-up Stu makes a Poynt
KEEPER’S MAIDEN CENTURY TURNS DURHAM MATCH
STUART Poynter and Michael Richardson demolished Derbyshire’s attack on a recordbreaking day for Durham in the Division Two County Championship match at Derby.
Poynter made his maiden championship century and Richardson celebrated his first in nearly four years as the pair shared Durham’s highest-ever sixth-wicket stand of 278.
Poynter was eventually out for a career-best 170 but he and Richardson transformed the game as Durham ended on 520, a lead of 93.
Derbyshire resumed today 1-0 after surviving two overs last night.
Wcketkeeper Poynter said: “I have felt like I am playing OK and just needed some time in the middle on a good wicket.
“I just looked to be positive and things went my way at the start.
“Richo helped out, he played brilliantly and took it to the next level.
“I try and be positive, get singles to get myself going and it went well. When it is your day you have to make sure it is a big one and I did that – but I was disappointed to get out because I was looking to bat all day.”
Derbyshire held all the cards at the start of the day when Durham resumed still 162 away from avoiding the follow-on.
When Cameron Steel went in the first over, caught at second slip off Duanne Olivier, Derbyshire must have sensed there was a chance to take control – but Graham Clark and captain Paul Collingwood gave the first indications of the fightback to come.
Collingwood responded to a painful blow amidships from Hardus Viljoen by hooking him for six and Clark reached his 50 with a straight driven four off the South African.
The pair had added 54 when Ravi Rampaul foundate movement to have Collingwood caught behind for 27 and in the next over Clark was lbw to Tony Palladino which kept low.
That was to prove Derbyshire’s last success as Richardson and Poynter first regrouped and then dominated on a pitch which had now flattened out.
The hosts had a chance to break the stand when Richardson was 33 and the total 224 but wicketkeeper Daryn Smit put down the edge off Olivier diving to his right.
Poynter completed his century from 128 balls as 148 runs came in the session.
Poynter cut Matt Critchley’s leg spin for his 17th four to reach 150, which also took Durham past their previous highest sixth-wicket stand of 249 between Gordon Muchall and Phil Mustard against Kent in 2006.
Richardson completed his first championship century since May 2014 in the next over and it was a surprise when Poynter played across a low full toss from Olivier and was lbw.
Palladino had Richardson lbw for 115 and finished with 4 for 87 – but it was Durham who went into the final day on top.