Ben Stokes drives Hollman straight to mid off to be caught by Roland-Jones
Photo: Benji Gilbert (Prost International)

Durham 256-5

Durham finished Day 1 at Lords with a creditable 256-5. Ned Eckersley was not out 57, while Liam Trevaskis walked off with 32. They had raised an unbeaten 73 for the sixth wicket and moved their county into an advantageous position.

Despite being put in, the Northerners excelled at the start of their innings reaching 81 without loss. Thereafter, their innings were staccato. Every batsman until that final evening reached at least 15, four reached 30 but none reached 50.

The home bowling was very disciplined, rarely beating the bat but offering very few bad deliveries. Both new balls were relatively unhelpful but became more bowler-friendly as they wore on.

Roland-Jones and Hollman took two wickets each and only Martin Andersson struggled, his 14 overs costing 59.

Middlesex won the toss and Durham opened with Alex Lees and Michael Jones. They played with a maturity and confidence, and soon saw off the opening spells of Roland-Jones, Tim Murtagh, Ethan Bamber and Andersson, surpassing 50 with ease.

Durham barely needed to make much use of the very short boundary on the Tavern Side, so effortless and error-free was the partnership. Roland-Jones was the most difficult bowler to getaway. His opening salvo of five overs only cost seven runs.

Lees was eventually out for 44, LBW to Toby Roland-Jones with the score at 81. It was pretty plumb although there originally seemed to be a suggestion of bat.

AFTERNOON SESSION

Durham had added 43 more after tea relatively effortlessly again when Hollman bowled a much wider ball to Scott Borthwick. The Sunderland native’s swing was too high and the bounce too low. A bottom edge knocked the stumps off to give Hollman his first wicket, and dismiss Borthwick for 15.

Ben Stokes obligingly holed Luke Hollman to mid-off where Roland-Jones was waiting, leaving for 15. It was not a great shot in the context of the game and seemed to be a cross between a lack of concentration and some arrogance

Middlesex’s session although Ned Eckersley and Keegan Petersen responded well to Stokes giving away his wicket.

Hollman bowled with imagination and variety. His contribution turned this game a little towards Middlesex. It may well have been the best session for spin bowling so far this season at Lords.

EVENING SESSION

The session started with Durhan 178-4 and Middlesex were overjoyed when DeCaires caught the dangerous Petersen on 48 off Roland-Jones’ bowling. Eckersley ploughed on, however, becoming the fourth of the first six in the order to reach 30.

The game was finely poised. Liam Trevaskis played patiently at number 7 and he and Eckersely turned an even game into advantage Durham.

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