Gay and Bedingham ace Durham’s chase against Lancashire: county cricket, day four – as it happened

Durham’s Emilio Gay and David Bedingham turned a substantial run chase into an ice-cream and Pimm’s knockabout at Chester-le-Street, chasing down a target of 336 to beat Lancashire with 18 overs to spare. Their unbeaten centuries, in a record stand, came at a gallop and Lancashire had no answer, despite winkling out Ben McKinney and Alex Lees before lunch. “The team is starting to believe,” said the Durham head coach, Ryan Campbell. “There’s a feeling of calmness around the group that I haven’t seen in a while.” Tom Westley and Dean Elgar both made centuries and in process batted Essex to safety against Surrey at the Oval, in a game soaked in sunshine and runs. More than 15,000 people came through the gates over the four days – a record crowd for the 21st century, attracted by the “work from the Oval” marketing and a concerted social media appeal to young people about the charms of the ground. Those who remained at the end may have raised their eyebrows at the bowling combination of not only Dom Sibley and Rory Burns, but also Ben Foakes, who last took a wicket 12 years ago for Frinton-on-Sea. There were draws in the other three Division One games too. At Headingley Joe Root collected three wickets for Yorkshire as Tom Clark’s 93 ensured Sussex would have no final-day scares, while Nottinghamshire made a much better fist of batting in their follow-on against Warwickshire, Kyle Verreynne leading the way with 115. Asa Tribe passed fifty for the second time this season, in Glamorgan’s high-scoring draw with Leicestershire on a turgid hybrid pitch. Gloucestershire have had a tough start to the season, but collected a stonking win against Derbyshire by 10 wickets. Gabe Bell and Will Williams took three wickets each as Derbyshire hustled just enough to make Gloucestershire bat again. Three results in Division Two, four high-scoring bore draws in Division One. Is it the pitches, the climate, the points allocation? All this and more on Friday when the CC rolls into round five. Time for me to write up now but thanks for your company this week, it’s been fun. Congratulations Durham, Gloucestershire and Worcestershire. Have a lovely evening. DIVISION ONE Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 440 and 137-2 DRAW with Leicestershire 586-7dec Trent Bridge: Notts 279 and 537-7dec DRAW with Warwickshire 459 The Oval: Surrey 472 DRAW with Essex 409 and 302-2 Headingley: Yorkshire 511 DRAW with Sussex 502 and 324-8 DIVISION TWO The County Ground: Gloucestershire 498 and 39-0 BEAT Derbyshire 281 and 252 by ten wickets Riverside: Durham 295 and 336-2 BEAT Lancashire 370 and 260-9dec by eight wickets New Road: Worcestershire 447 BEAT Kent 196 and 249 by an innings and two runs Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 440 and 137-2 DRAW with Leicestershire 586-7dec What a run chase! Gay 159 not out, Bedingham 129 not out and a third wicket partnership of 290. Riverside: Durham 295 and 336-2 BEAT Lancashire 370 and 260-9dec by eight wickets Durham 20 points, Lancs 6 points Trent Bridge: Notts 279 and 537-7dec DRAW with Warwickshire 459 Nottinghamshire 11pts, Warwickshire 16pts And, one minute early, the game is put out of its misery. The Oval: Surrey 472 DRAW with Essex 409 and 302-2 Surrey 12pts, Essex 12 pts Headingley: Yorkshire 511 DRAW with Sussex 502 and 324-8 Yorkshire 13 points, Sussex 13 points Ben Foakes has taken the new ball. Very jaunty he is too. Jordan Clark is keeping wicket. Foakes last took a wicket 12 years ago playing for Frinton on Sea. This is turning into a cakewalk. Bedingham has joined Gay in the century club. What a partnership! “A word for the Durham lads,” writes Mike Wiltshire. “Phenomenal effort by Durham at CLS. At 168-8 on day 2 they were 202 runs behind and avoiding defeat looked like the main objective. But the tail wagged, Lancs declared on 260-9 and Gay and Bedingham have taken the chase from a distant target to a formality with a partnership of 240 and counting!” Dom Sibley has bowled four overs, in his baggy shirt and off five paces, but that is still a very good century by Dean Elgar. Essex 282-2. A win! A palpable win! Congratulations Gloucestershire – onwards. The County Ground: Gloucestershire 498 and 39-0 BEAT Derbyshire 281 and 252 by ten wickets Derbyshire 3 pts, Gloucestershire 21 pts. Notts have almost doubled their first-innings score in this second attempt. Verreynne gave the crowd a little bow as he scampered a single to reach three figures just before tea. To Headingley, where Joe Root’s lesser-spotted spin has picked up three wickets in Sussex’s 277-8. 93 for Tom Clark and a half century for James Coles. This too is trickling to a draw. A second century of the season, and fabulous innings, has made Durham clear favourites now at CLS. The players wander slowly down the pavilion steps – a few more overs of Rory Burns and handshakes in an hour. Things are looking more interesting though at Derby – where Gloucestershire need 30 more for their first win of the season, while Durham, speared by Gay and Bedingham, need just 103 to beat Lancashire. Steve Laville, you win the CCLive! cake of the day. “Perusing one of my old cricket books, Cricket Campaigns by Norman Yardley, he states that in the very last county championship game before the Second World War, (coincidentally, like today, against Sussex), apart from Brian Sellers and Robinson, every member of the Yorkshire side had been selected to represent England in Tests: Hutton, Barber, Mitchell, Leyland, Yardley himself, Wood, Bowes, Verity and Smailes. (Though Smailes never actually turned out, as rain at Old Trafford prevented play in the only Test he was selected for).” DIVISION ONE Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 440 and 82-2 v Leicestershire 586-7dec Trent Bridge: Notts 279 and 510-6 v Warwickshire 459 The Oval: Surrey 472 v Essex 409 and 249-2 Headingley: Yorkshire 511 v Sussex 502 and 272-8 DIVISION TWO The County Ground: Derbyshire 281 and 252 v Gloucestershire 498 Riverside: Durham 295 and 233-2 v Lancashire 370 and 260-9dec Durham need 103 to win New Road: Worcestershire 447 BEAT Kent 196 and 249 by an innings and two Derbyshire’s last pair are making Guocestershire sweat, they’ve now added 30 and have pushed to a lead of 30. To keep the somnolent Oval crowd from dozing, Westley is slapping the Surrey attack around – but no more as he’s brilliantly caught by a diving Sibley just in front of my nose for 136. Lawrence the wicket taker. Some 15,544 people have come through The Oval gates this match, which is a record 21st century CC attendance here, beating the 14,952 who came for the game against Essex last year for the festival of red ball cricket. How do they do it, you wonder? The working from The Oval idea has gone viral, also a push to young people, stressing on social media how central The Oval is and how easy it is to get to. This year’s red ball festival game is against Notts, beginning August 20. A warm afternoon ripple of Oval applause as Tom Westley eases to his century with a four, and follows up with two more in succession off Tom Lawes. Essex lead by 119, this partnership with Elgar an easy 160. But a breakthrough at The County Ground where Will Williams has sneaked through Luis Reece’s defences, out for 50, after a 23 over partnership with Zak Chappell. Derby 216-8, trail by one. Actually, make that nine down as Shoaib Bashir nudges to second slip for two. Durham are creeping up on that Lancashire target, runs needed now below 200. Gay and Bedingham have added 107 for the third wicket, the new ball a long sigh away. Ali with the news that Arthur will join Richard Dawson, Alan Richardson and Anthony McGrath on Rob Key’s new panel. Asa Tribe has another chance to put his hand up for that England opener’s spot. Sibley and HH have so far made hundreds this round, but the door may have gently shut on them. Glamorgan 26 for one. Tom Westley eases to fifty with a drive to the rope. Soporific crowd, gentle cricket. Essex 114-1. And hello Jonathan Clover, who has been mulling over yesterday’s discussion of Surrey’s Test-player filled side. “Yorkshire in 1955 had eight Test cricketers (past and present at the time of the game) in their side. For example, in the fixture v Somerset on May 14th the side included: Hutton, Lowson, Close, Watson, Yardley Wardle Trueman and Appleyard, and in the following home match (25.5.55) the same group, but substituting Illingworth for Hutton. “I suspect (though not checked) that Yorkshire teams of 1960s could have had same number.” When I was doing a lunchtime circuit of The Oval I came across a giant portrait of Hutton made out of bricks, I’m guessing to celebrate his 364 here in 1938. Rotten news from The Oval. Cam Steel, who won three Championship titles with Surrey, has been forced to retire after failing to recover from an ankle injury he picked up in 2024 going for a run on Tooting Common. Steel underwent surgery in February last year, and a further operation in September, but wasn’t able to fully recover. “Playing cricket for a living, and particularly for Surrey, has been the best time of my life,” said Steel. “The last 18 months have been frustrating, and I’m gutted to be retiring on medical grounds. Cricket had become something I was watching, rather than doing, with too much time in the Oval’s windowless gym and not enough time out in the middle. I’ve always prided myself on working hard and doing everything I can to improve, and I gave my all to get back on the park. Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be. “Surrey have always encouraged me to be unapologetically myself, and I’m hugely grateful to the club, the players and the members for their support throughout my time here. Thank you to the medical staff for sticking with me through every grumpy calf raise and setback, and to the coaches, whose shoulders and backs survived years of throwdowns. Mostly, thank you to the lads for their friendship and support. A special thank you to Gareth Batty for his backing, opportunities and limitless time, and to Alec Stewart for taking a chance on me in 2021 and bringing me to the best club in the world. Who knew the Gaffer was watching Western Australian grade cricket?” DIVISION ONE Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 440 and 3-0 v Leicestershire 586-7dec Trent Bridge: Notts 279 and 412-4 v Warwickshire 459 The Oval: Surrey 472 v Essex 409 and 92-1 Headingley: Yorkshire 511 v Sussex 502 and 159-4 DIVISION TWO The County Ground: Derbyshire 281 and 179-7 v Gloucestershire 498 Riverside: Durham 295 and 99-2 v Lancashire 370 and 260-9dec Durham need 237 to win New Road: Worcestershire 447 BEAT Kent 196 and 249 by an innings and two Derbyshire are down and nearly out, 177-7, still trail Gloucs by 40. If Gloucestershire do manage to winkle out the last three, it will leave Kent the only club in Div 2 not to have a win under their belt. How are Durham doing in their run-chase? Hmmm, better than they were at 46-2. Emilio Gay (26) and David Bedingham (24) are rebuilding. Durham 88-2, need another 248. A wicket each for Mitch Stanley and George Balderson. A lead of 146 on a featherbed pitch should mean this game potters into a draw, but you never know… Gus Atkinson returns for a pre-lunch blast at the pavilion end. Arrive train-belatedly at The Oval, to discover that Tom Westley was dropped off Matt Fisher’s first ball. He roars an lbw appeal, both Westley and the ump are uninterested. And at Headingley, George HIll has removed nightwatchman Carlson. Sussex, three down, lead by 61. Tattersall joins in the Sophia Gardens run glut, with a playful 112 before Kiran Carlson, who has toiled through 27 overs, has him caught for 112. Leicestershire 542-6 have a lead of 102 over Glamorgan. And another one down for Derbyshire, Andersson for a two-ball duck to Will Williams, who is having quite a game. Good and bad news for Derbyshire fans – Matthew Montgomery has 50, but nightwatchman Ben Aitchison is out. Derbys 125-4, still trail Gloucs by 92. An early wicket at The Oval, that man Atkinson easing into his bowling boots. Tall Paul lbw for three, Essex 25 for one and still in arrears. Ignore me, comments are up and running. Durham have the biggest test this morning, a rampaging Jimmy Anderson. Lancs have a week off next week so he can give it his all. To those hoping to chat BTL, fingers crossed we will have comments up soon. Six games safely underway, the sun still smiling. It seems Joe Root’s batting had more than just CCLive! smiling. Last night Sussex coach Paul Farbrace told the reporters network: “One or two of our young batters who have aspirations to play international cricket got to watch Rooty close up, how he scores off good balls and punishes the bad ones.” Also enjoyed his comment on Tom Price. “He’s twisted his ankle, but it’s the first time I’ve ever seen anyone twist an ankle doing a long barrier. When they did that at Under 13s level, he must have had a week off that week. He’ll be ok.” This looks good. If you have or know a child from a state school background in Surrey, point them in the direction of Twenty20 Community Cricket. They are looking for a ‘state school superstar’ from boys in years 4–6 and girls in years 7–9 . The winners will get a full bursary place at the Twenty20 Community Cricket academy. The competition consists of a skills assessment (bowling accuracy, catching consistency, shot selection, agility and athleticism) and then a hard-ball match. For more details and to register, see here. Sabastian Sawe may have crossed the marathon finishing line in under two hours, but things were more sedate a couple of miles away at the Oval where Dom Sibley escorted Surrey towards parity and beyond. He spent nearly 20 minutes on 99 before reaching his first hundred of the year, though shortly afterwards was the unlucky recipient of a Sam Cook cracker. Dan Lawrence leapt to an entertaining 125. Surrey finished with a lead of 63 and Essex saw off the final nine overs of the day. Surrey had promised free entry to any marathon runners but there was no sign of medals. Worcestershire duly bulldozed Kent, an innings-and-two-run flattening at New Road. Kent needed 231 to avoid an innings defeat and were soon in the soup at 38 for three, Tom Taylor (5 for 56) the destroyer. Zak Crawley dug in, but was eventually out, driving, for 31. Chris Benjamin (77) and Keith Dudgeon (41) could not quite force Worcestershire to bat again. Kent are yet to pick up a batting point, and have lost Ben Compton with a dislocated finger. Joe Root purred into action at Headingley, in his first runout of the year. However, it was a surprise when he nibbled at Henry Crocombe and was out for 96. Sam Whiteman collected his maiden century for Yorkshire, who inched to a lead of nine. Sussex then lost two evening wickets. Haseeb Hameed (115) and Ben Duckett (93) propped up Nottinghamshire as they followed-on against Warwickshire. Duckett’s dashing 93 was his second half-century of the game. Matthew Potts reeled through Lancashire’s top order, leaving them 72 for six, but two Durham old boys, Michael Jones (72) and Paul Coughlin (100) manned the lifeboats. Durham need 336 to win. Winless Gloucestershire can sleep on the chance of breaking their drought after forcing Derbyshire to follow-on at The Racecourse Ground. On a featherbed at Cardiff, it was Leicestershire’s turn for batting practice, with only four wickets falling all day. DIVISION ONE Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 440 v Leicestershire 500-5 Trent Bridge: Notts 279 and 310-4 v Warwickshire 459 The Oval: Surrey 472 v Essex 409 and 19-0 Headingley: Yorkshire 511 v Sussex 502 and 31-2 DIVISION TWO The County Ground: Derbyshire 281 and 117-3 v Gloucestershire 498 Riverside: Durham 295 v Lancashire 370 and 260-9dec Durham need 336 to win New Road: Worcestershire 447 BEAT Kent 196 and 249 by an innings and two runs. Good morning! It’s another beautiful one, lilac blossoms and stick-gathering birds. After Kent were rolled over yesterday, all eyes on Chester le Street, Derby and Trent Bridge, with the others looking likely to drift towards draws.