Saqlain stars in drab draw

Saqlain Mushtaq took 6-50 with his probing off-spin

Surrey’s experienced alliance of Mark Ramprakash and Mark Butcher frustrated Durham as the rain-ruined match at Chester-le-Street ended in a draw.

After being set a target of 270 in 53 overs, Surrey slipped to 45 for three with Steve Harmison taking two of the wickets.

But there were no further alarms and the visitors were 83 for three when proceedings were halted at 5.15pm in poor light.

The day’s biggest beneficiary from the attempt to salvage something from the loss of 120 overs was off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq.

In trying to hurry to a declaration after lunch, Durham added 30 in four overs.

But Saqlain took 5-3 in 14 balls, including three stumpings, to finish with innings figures of 6-50.

Durham began the day 117 ahead on 76 for two but in the second over Kyle Coetzer shouldered arms and had his off-stump knocked out by Jimmy Ormond.

South African Neil McKenzie edged a catch to wicketkeeper Jon Batty in attempting to pull Pedro Collins from outside off-stump.

But Dale Benkenstein and Phil Mustard then put on 114 in 29 overs with the Durham skipper completing his second half-century of the match.

Skipper Dale Benkenstein put on 114 with Phil Mustard

Mustard showed rare restraint in grafting to 29 off 70 balls at lunch then required only a further 10 deliveries to reach 50 before becoming the first of Batty’s stumpings.

Benkenstein holed out at mid-wicket for 63, while off-spinner Paul Wiseman’s only scoring shot was a pulled six off Ormond.

The declaration came on 228 for nine after Durham added 152 in 41 overs for the loss of seven wickets.

Surrey’s chase began in grim light and when Batty was lbw to Graham Onions in the second over, survival looked the best option.

But Ramprakash had made only two when he cut a short, wide ball for six during an eventful few overs for Harmison.

Left-hander Scott Newman whipped a ball off his hip to long leg, where Onions took a good catch, and four overs later successive balls from Harmison were pulled for six, four and four by Usman Afzaal before the next ball drew him forward and had him lbw.

The fourth-wicket pair had added 26 in 13 overs when Durham recalled Onions and he beat Ramprakash with his first two balls.

But all hope had gone for Durham when bad light intervened at 4.45pm.

Three overs were lost, after which Benkenstein bowled himself and Wiseman in an attempt to avoid losing points for a slow over-rate. Ramprakash was on 25 and Butcher 21 at the close.