Durham dig deep

16 June 2009

James Hildreth becomes the second of Piyush Chawla's victims as Sussex fought back versus Somerset at Hove

Durham showed the spirit that helped them claim the LV= County Championship Division One title last year as they rallied against a Chris Woakes-inspired Warwickshire today.

Birmingham-born Woakes, who at 20 is tipped to feature for England in the coming years, claimed 3-70, taking the first trio of wickets as the champions were reduced to 120 for four at one stage at Edgbaston.

However, an unbeaten 107 from Ian Blackwell and 48 for Gareth Breese helped Durham, who could go top with victory, reach stumps at 322 for six.

Marcus Trescothick’s 109 was countered by spinner Piyush Chawla’s 5-95 as Somerset closed day one of their match against Sussex at Hove on 314 for nine.

At 138 without loss the west country team would have expected far more, but they struggled to build on further scores of 50 from Zander de Bruyn and Peter Trego, the latter unbeaten.

Only Trescothick, De Bruyn, Trego and Arul Suppiah (49) managed to break the 20-run mark as India Test spinner Chawla dominated.

Bottom county Worcestershire made a promising start in their basement battle with Yorkshire at New Road.

Chawla, the India Test leg-spinner, is mobbed by his new county colleagues

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The home team’s batting was solid throughout as Daryl Mitchell (68), Stephen Moore (60), Moeen Ali (55) and Steve Davies (75no) all made half-centuries in a stumps total of 319 for five.

In Division Two, wickets tumbled at Tunbridge Wells as Kent failed to stamp their authority after bowling out Essex cheaply.

Ryan McLaren’s 4-80 helped to skittle the visitors for just 280 - a score based on a middle-order rally led by Mark Pettini (55) and Graham Napier (64no).

However, Kent’s riposte was on the brink of disaster when Rob Key and Joe Denly were trapped lbw without a single run on the board, and they were four for two at the close.

Jade Dernbach’s 6-47 condemned rock-bottom Leicestershire to another day to forget against Surrey at Grace Road.

None of the home batsmen were able to reach a half-century in their first-innings 165 all out as the South Africa-born seamer ran riot.

Surrey were going along well in reply, with Michael Brown 46no in their stumps total of 121 for one.

Australian opener Mark Cosgrove retired hurt shortly after reaching 102no as Glamorgan reached 308 all out against Northamptonshire in Cardiff.

Mike Powell also struck 88 as David Wigley collected 5-78, and the visitors survived the single over they had to face to close day one on none for none.