Notts demolished by Onions career best

Notts demolished by Onions career best

Graham Onions appeals 2012

An outstanding  career best 9-67 and a run out from Graham Onions saw Durham dismiss Notts for 154, forty and by the close the visitors were 27-0, leading by 67 runs

Durham resumed on 84-5 with Paul Collingwood and Dale Benkenstein at the crease, it was the dismissal of the captain, who was caught by Michael Lumb off Luke Fletcher on 19, that initiated the loss of four quick wickets for just 20 runs.

Benkenstein (26) became Phillips’ second victim of the innings when he was caught by Adam Voges and Scott Borthwick (6) was caught at point by Rikki Wessels off the bowling of Carter seven overs later.

Phillips and Carter each claimed another wicket with Thorp (1) caught at cover by Cater and Mitchell Claydon, who added a quickfire 17, caught at point by Wessels.

The final partnership put on fifty taking Durham to 194 before the last wicket fell in the last few minutes of the extended 30 minutes of the session, that of Mark Wood (34) who was caught behind off White after the slightest of touches as the ball passed the bat into the keepers gloves.

The Durham attack was led by Graham Onions after lunch, with Mitchell Claydon the nominated player to step down in the event that Onions wasn’t named in the England squad v South Africa Test at Lord’s.

Onions showed his effectiveness immediately, striking with the sixth delivery of the Notts innings, trapping Alex Hales lbw without scoring.

Nottinghamshire were 32-2 when Onions struck for a second time, trapping Lumb lbw on 12.

Onions claimed three further scalps as he took his haul to five, with Voges bowled on 9, followed by  Wessels (22) falling to the same fate four overs later and then dismissing captain Chris Read when he was caught behind first ball.

A flurry from Paul Franks and Stephen Mullaney saw Notts 113-5 at tea.  Their 65 run partnership was ended by Onions when Mullaney was trapped lbw on 23.  

Franks went on to reach fifty from 69 deliveries before he too fell foul of Onions, out lbw for 53.  His replacement at the crease, Graeme White, scored 13 but became the seamers eighth victim when he was caught at first slip by Collingwood with Notts 153-8.

Just one run was added to the total before Luke Fletcher was run out by a direct hit from Onions, bringing the final batsman to the crease with Notts still 40 runs short of Durham’s first innings.

It really was Onions’ day as he saw off the final scalp, bowling Carter, and securing new career best figures of 9-67.

Durham began their second innings with a 40 run already in hand and at the close had faced 12 overs and were 27 without loss.

At the close of play Durhamccc.co.uk spoke to Graham Onions, “It’s been a special day for me and most importantly for Durham. There have been some downs but in the last few weeks we have started to bowl as a unit. I bowled well last week and have, if you like, got rewards today. We see ourselves in a strong position.

“I knew this morning that I wasn’t playing in the England side so I got in my car and came straight here.  To come back to the county that I love playing for and to take wickets that puts our side in a pretty decent position puts a smile on my face.  To take nine wickets is really something and still needs to sink in – it’s fantastic.  I was more than happy to get the run out – I guess now you think it would have been fantastic to take 10 wickets but I can’t be unhappy with nine!

“We still have a game to win, we have got to bat well tomorrow and if we can bat all day then we will be in a very strong position.”

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