Match Report

Seamers give nothing away on day one against Durham

11 Apr 2019

Photo: Alison McCreedy

Ollie Robinson and Chris Jordan led a highly controlled Sussex bowling performance as Durham were restricted to 210 for eight on day one of the team’s Specsavers County Championship encounter at Emirates Riverside.

Robinson and Jordan both took three wickets while Mir Hamza, Chris Jordan and David Wiese picked up a victim each as Durham’s scoring rate barely got above two runs per over.

All eyes were on Cameron Bancroft on his bow for the north-east outfit. He made a patient 33, but he and his team-mates in the top order struggled to put runs on the board amid tight bowling from the outset.

Liam Trevaskis led a fightback in the evening session, scoring his maiden first-class fifty. However, a late surge from Jordan ensured that Sussex were in command after the first day at Emirates Riverside.

Durham were inserted after an uncontested toss. Cameron Steel rather than Bancroft opened alongside Alex Lees, and he got off the mark with his first delivery of the innings. However, Steel made only three runs before Robinson removed his off stump.

🎥 BREAKING NEWS: National Union of Off-Stumps ballots members on possible strike action over safe working conditions when @ollierobinson25 is playing #gosbts pic.twitter.com/PE1M15kkM4
— Sussex Cricket (@SussexCCC) April 11, 2019

Bancroft arrived at the crease to join Lees to a smattering of applause from home fans, although scoring proved to be tough for both batsmen. Lee battled for an hour at the crease before he was bowled by Mir Hamza for 12, leaving the home side exposed at 17 for 2. Hamza was Sussex's most economical bowler, conceding just 21 runs from his 16 overs.

🎥 REPLAY: 🥩-ed 🔛 #gosbts pic.twitter.com/VdDxOVhG6h
— Sussex Cricket (@SussexCCC) April 11, 2019

Gareth Harte and Bancroft were able hold out until lunch, edging Durham over the 50-run mark, before Robinson returned from the Finchale End after the break and broke the stand at 46, bowling Harte for 18. The Sussex seamer was in rhythm and notched his third wicket of the day when he trapped Jack Burnham lbw for a duck. Bancroft's resistance was proving vital for the home side to keep the visitors at bay, despite the slow progress in the middle.

🎥 REPLAY: We're going to put it out there... after Jimmy Anderson is there a better English swing bowler than @ollierobinson25 right now?

🎩 A true magician with a cricket ball! #gosbts pic.twitter.com/cmKcu96BDs
— Sussex Cricket (@SussexCCC) April 11, 2019

However, the Durham skipper was removed by David Wiese after facing 159 deliveries, edging to Jordan at first slip. At 97 for 5, the home side were facing a challenge to post a competitive total in their first innings. Trevaksis and Ned Eckersley, on debut, kept Sussex at bay amid precise bowling from Robinson, Hamza and Jordan.

The duo put on the first fifty partnership of the innings from 114 deliveries, defying the visitors' attempt to take control. Trevaskis displayed a fluency that his team-mates had failed to discover at the crease. The left-hander finding the boundary to pass his previous highest first-class score of 27.

Eckersley's impressive knock was ended on 40 when he played a loose drive from a Jordan delivery, knicking behind to Ben Brown, which ended a fine stand of 93 with Trevaskis. The 19-year-old played and missed on several occasions before he finally reached his maiden first-class fifty, piercing the offside field to find the boundary.

📽️ REPLAY: Two in two balls for @CJordan! 🎯 #gosbts pic.twitter.com/eVmT8fiuPJ
— Sussex Cricket (@SussexCCC) April 11, 2019

Jordan then made a late burst for Sussex striking twice in two balls with searing inswing yorkers. Trevaskis was removed for 54 and James Weighell for a golden duck, putting the visitors in the ascendancy heading into day two.