Durham fight back after destructive Chris Jordan burst

Chris Jordan had Durham on the rocks at 90 for 5 on the first day of the Specsavers County Championship match at The 1st Central County Ground before a Cameron Bancroft century put the visitors back on course, steering them to 259 without futher loss at the close. 

After electing to bat first, Durham's opening partnership lasted just seven deliveries before Alex Lees sliced his attempted cover drive off Jordan to Harry Finch at backward-point. There were just 7.2 overs in the morning because of persistent light rain.

When play resumed after lunch Sussex took control. Aaron Thomason took his maiden first-class wicket when he had Gareth Harte, driving, caught by Stiaan van Zyl at extra-cover.  That made it 64-2 in the 22nd over. 

Then Jordan shook Durham with a spell of three wickets in eight balls without conceding a run. First, he caught Jack Burnham by surprise with one that bounced and seamed sharply away, for Ben Brown to take a regulation catch behind the wicket.

There were two more for the England man in his next over. First he swung one away from Graham Clark, who pushed forward and was caught by Laurie Evans at second slip. Then, three balls later, Liam Trevaskis was also defeated by late away swing and was lbw without scoring.

But then Bancroft and Ned Eckersley put on an unbroken stand of 169.  It was a record sixth wicket stand for Durham against Sussex, beating the 129 shared between Sherwin Campbell and Chris Scott at Hove in 1996.

They had some good fortune.  Eckersley had made only four when he was dropped in the slips. Sussex still looked good at tea, though, when Durham were 117-5.  But after the interval Bancroft, who had reached his half-century by pulling the unlucky David Wiese for four, was dropped behind off the same bowler on 59.

Bancroft went on to reach his century – beating his previous best score for the county of 70 – off 179 balls.  There were ten fours and a straight six off spinner Luke Wells.  At the close Bancroft was 120 not out and Eckersley was unbeaten with 70, including eight fours. 

Commenting on his performance, Jordan - who finished the day with figures of 4 for 41 from his 21 overs - said: “I’m pretty happy to get wickets and contribute to the team.

"I would like us to be in a better position, given the chances that we created. We missed a couple of chances.  But at the end of the day I would say it’s honours even and we need to make some inroads with the new ball in the morning.

“We weren’t too displeased to lose the toss and bowl first.  The ball often does something here early on.  Now it all depends how we come back in the morning.  Cameron showed why he is an international player.  He went through the gears.  He’s a quality player.  We will want to get him out early in the morning.”