In-form Dickson notches his third ton of the season
DURHAM opener Sean Dickson continued his prolific form with a third Lv=insurance County Championship century of the season on the opening day against Worcestershire at New Road.
New England captain Ben Stokes watched on admiringly from the dressing-room balcony as Dickson established a solid platform for his side.
The South African reached his century off 179 balls with one six and 14 fours as Durham took full advantage of a wicket offering little encouragement to the bowlers ending day one of the Division Two clash on 339-3.
Stokes is due to bat at number six in his first appearance since his England role was confirmed last month.
He was forced to sit with his pads on for much of the final session as Durham captain Scott Borthwick and David Bedingham cashed in on an attack which has enjoyed better days with the ball.
For Worcestershire, left-armer Ben Gibbon, who has been working on a building side for the past three years, pickled up the wicket of Keegan Petersen on his first-class debut.
Dickson joined Durham from Kent in 2020, initially on loan, after declining a contract extension offer and had made only spasmodic Championship appearances before this season.
Eight four-day games for the county before this season had yielded only one half-century but it has been a different scenario in 2022 for him.
He struck 120 versus Leicestershire and 186 against Sussex
Dickson said: “It is a good batting track but it has something in it still and it is important for our bowlers to go in with that mindset. Once or twice the ball has flown through.
“We will definitely be hunting for maximum batting points.
“After two average batting displays the last two games, we are really hungry for the five batting points.
“I was on 99 at tea. I think it is some maturity showing through.
“I think in the past I would have panicked and thought ‘I want to get it before tea’ but there is so much time left in the game.
“What difference is me going into tea on 99 or 100 in terms of the game?
“There is no difference. Just go into tea, have my protein shake in and be more ready for that extra run than I was beforehand.”
Durham opted to bat first on a wicket which had the same moisture content and length of grass as for the victory over Sussex but different overhead conditions..
England opener Alex Lees did not look entirely at ease, edging Leach for four and then seeing an uppish cut against the same bowler fly just wide of the slip cordon.
However, the Durham first wicket pair managed to survive the new ball before Ed Barnard made the first breakthrough.
Lees could only inside edge a delivery from the England Lions player onto his stumps after making 27 with 55 on the board.
Dickson immediately looked in the kind of good touch befitting a player who had started the season so well and produced a series of fine cover drives.
His second-wicket stand with Petersen blossomed in the afternoon and was worth 123 in 37 overs when Gibbon picked up his first wicket.
Petersen completed a 116-ball 50 but had not added to his score when he edged a Gibbon delivery and wicketkeeper Ben Cox held onto a good low catch.
Dickson went to tea on 99 for the second time this season after being in the same position against Leicestershire at Chester-le-street.
He was fortunate on the resumption when his drive against Jack Leach fell inches short of Finch at extra cover.
The 30-year-old eventually went to three figures from 179 balls when he cut Barnard for his 14th four.
Barnard had his revenge in dismissing the former Kent player on 104 with a ball which bounced on him, found the edge and was snapped up by Ed Pollock at first slip.
Borthwick, on 80, and Bedingham, with 69, flourished in the final session after safely negotiating the second new ball.
They completed 68 and 67-ball half-centuries respectively during an unbroken stand of 117 before the close.