Patel puts defeated Durham in real spin
JON LEWIS rued yet another disappointing first-innings batting display by Durham as they slipped to a second successive Specsavers County Championship Division Two defeat.
The Riversiders slumped to an 86-run loss to Warwickshire at Chester-le-Street, being bowled out for 227 chasing 313 to win.
Jeetan Patel was the star man for Warwickshire in the second innings as he took the 32nd fivewicket haul of his career, ending with figures of 6-83.
Durham were left to rue batting collapses from their middle order - but head coach Lewis believes the damage was done in the first innings.
Then, his side could muster 297 in reply to the visitors’ 424.
Lewis said: “First-innings deficits are becoming all-too regular.
“Often at home it has been down to being put in on the first morning in difficult batting conditions with the Dukes ball.
“This one with the pink ball was a slightly different game altogether.
“It was a bit of an unknown coming into game and the stunning weather we have been having is not always what we get.
“It was a tough four-day game, difficult over 12 sessions.
“The one outstanding performance would be Jonathan Trott’s 170 - it made the difference.
“One single innings and partnership which we did not have made the difference in the end.”
He added: “Anything within the range of 300 we thought would be reachable.
“Patel, though, is probably the best spinner in the country in county cricket.
“So it was always going to be a tough ask.
“We thought 300 or just over would give us just a bit of a sniff.
“We started ok, we just had that one over when Jeetan took two in an over, which derailed us a bit.
“Ultimately we came up fairly comfortably short.”
Warwickshire began the day with a lead of 279 and it was clear from the off they were in a hurry to push on their total beyond 300.
Keith Barker and Tim Ambrose were able to put on a partnership of 60 before Ryan Pringle broke the stand.
The off-spinner claimed three wickets in a single over as Patel and Chris Wright were dismissed in back-to-back deliveries.
Oliver Hannon-Dalby played a loose drive to continue the procession of wickets before the visitors declared on 185-9.
Warwickshire put the pressure on the home side early on as opener Cameron Steel nicked to Ian Bell at third slip.
Tom Latham and Will Smith then put a 50 partnership together before Smith edged a short delivery from Hannon-Dalby through to wicketkeeper Tim Ambrose.
Latham soon followed when he fell lbw to Patel, while Paul Collingwood was dismissed in the same over edging behind.
Wickets then fell regularly before paceman Nathan Rimmington offered late fireworks blasting his maiden 50 for Durham off 51 balls including eight fours and a six.