Mickleburgh returns to haunt Durham

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Durham suffered at Jaik Mickleburgh's hands for the second time this year as Essex offered battled belatedly for survival

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Jaik Mickleburgh again showed his liking for the Durham attack with a polished effort that underpinned Essex’s innings in the LV= County Championship clash at Chelmsford.

The 20-year-old right-hander, who took 174 off Durham in the opening game of the season, struck 72 as Essex closed on 248 for nine on a day cut short by 10 overs because of rain.

Despite Mickleburgh’s contribution, Essex nevertheless appear doomed to drop into Division Two next season.

They already seem to have accepted that fact as they went into this match without leading wicket-taker David Masters, preferring to rest the fast bowler ahead of Saturday's Clydesdale Bank 40 semi-final with Somerset.

Mickleburgh, whose 10 boundaries included a straight-driven six against spinner Ian Blackwell, survived a scare on 59 when wicketkeeper Phil Mustard, at full stretch, failed to hold on to a catch offered against Ben Harmison.

But it did not prove too expensive as 13 runs later he drove straight to Dale Benkenstein at mid-off when Scott Borthwick gave one of his leg-breaks a little more air.

It was not such a rewarding day for England opener Alastair Cook. He progressed to 33 without too much trouble but then undid his good work by pulling Liam Plunkett to Mitch Claydon at square-leg.

Matt Walker was another to perish in the 30s, turning Blackwell to Mark Stoneman at leg slip after helping Mickleburgh add 74 for the third wicket.

Following Mickleburgh's dismissal, skipper James Foster reached 20 for the first time in eight championship innings and also guided Essex to their first batting point in four games.

But there was little else to cheer the Essex faithful, with Durham making inroads at regular intervals.

Foster had moved to within eight runs of his half-century when he was trapped leg before by Plunkett with the second new ball.

Plunkett's two wickets came at a cost of 27 runs, while spinners Blackwell and Borthwick also picked up two scalps apiece at a cost of 30 and 41 respectively.