Durham’s Matthew Potts continued his impressive campaign by taking four wickets to help beat Yorkshire for 254 on the first day of their County Championship game at Seat Unique Riverside.
Yorkshire skipper Shan Masood, making his County debut, won the coin toss and opted to bat. But, Adam Lyth became Potts’ first victim in just the second. The tone of dismissal would sum up Yorkshire’s day as batters steadily gave away their wickets as Masood, Dawid Malan and Jonny Bairstow failed to capitalize on starts.
Potts was the main beneficiary with numbers 4-49, while Ben Raine claimed three wickets to put Durham on the board with three bonus bowling points.
Yorkshire fought back late in the day as Jordan Thompson and George Hill eliminated the home side’s opening games, reducing Durham to 42-2 at the end.
Having scored 174 in their last outing, Yorkshire would have expected a strong start from Lyth after winning the draw. But, he only lasted 10 balls before slapping the ball straight to Graham Clark to give Potts an early breakthrough.
Masood survived a loud down-call from Leede who may have just thrown outside the leg stump to produce enough doubt that referee Paul Baldwin didn’t lift a finger.
The visitors were dealt a blow when Saud Shakeel suffered an unfortunate injury by twisting his ankle during a race. He received treatment for 10 minutes and attempted to regain his innings, only to last for another ball before retiring on eight. Malan replaced Shakeel in the crease and was slow to settle, needing 21 balls to clear the mark.
Masood found his rhythm before lunch to close within six half-centuries on his first Yorkshire appearance, raising the stand 50 from 71 balls. However, the break allowed Durham to regroup and Potts forced Masood’s error in the first round after lunch, which cut his own stumps for 44.
The wicket brought Bairstow down the middle in a bid to regain his form to advance his credentials for a place at the Ashes. He and Malan went through a tough time bowling as Potts and Brydon Carse put the pressure on.
Malan absorbed the attack and took the initiative against Carse with a return to limits. But, his aggressiveness would cost him his wicket as he edged out Michael Jones at the first slip.
Bairstow survived a close hold that overtook David Bedingham but couldn’t make the most of his second life, losing his center stump on an inside edge to present De Leede with his first first-class wicket.
Hill and Matthew Revis faced a rebuild in the afternoon session. Hill made his intentions against Ajaz Patel known, sending the New Zealand international over the top line with a sublime ground strike. However, Durham’s pace bowlers were relentless and Raine took his first wicket of the day to break the partnership for 49.
The home side extended their advantage after Yorkshire passed the 200 runs mark. Dom Bess, Hill and the returning Shakeel were all eliminated with the score of 202.
The series of dismissals embodied the theme of the day, as the visitors were guilty of throwing wickets, producing a series of loose back foot kicks. Mickey Edwards and Matthew Fisher added 36 for the last wicket to earn a bonus run at bat before Raine ended the innings with just the third delivery with the new ball.
Needing early wickets, Thompson produced a gem of a delivery to reward Michael Jones in response before Alex Lees dropped for 15lbw at Hill just before the close to give Yorkshire a timely boost ahead of day two .
Report provided by the ECB Reporters Network.
