Durham Country Cricket Club

Thorp celebrates

After rain caused the two sides to lose most of the day, play started at 3.45pm after Durham had won the toss and elected to field first.

Callum Thorp broke the opening partnership with the fourth delivery of the day when Liam Dawson edged the ball to Michael Di Venuto in the slips. He struck again in his fourth over when Michael Carberry was caught behind for 4 with Hampshire 9-2.

The ball continued to move around in the air and off the pitch, but Hampshire batsmen Jimmy Adams and Neil McKenzie, both watchful at the crease dug in for the visitors. Both batsmen began to look  more comfortable at the crease, but Durham's seamers were still in with a chance as Chris Rushworth and Mitchell Claydon both found the edge of the bat only for the ball to drop short of the slips.

With clouds around the Emirates Durham throughout the afternoon the quality of the light was always going to be an issue. After Mitchell Claydon's third ball of his fourth over the umpires got together for a chat and offered the light which the Hamphire batsmen swiftly accepted with the score at 47-2. 

The players were back on the pitch again at 6.00pm, but as Mitchell Claydon is about to run up to continue his over the rain came again taking the players off the field. This was just a swift shower though and the players were soon back on for the eleven remaining overs.

Claydon then struck in only the third ball back after the break, with the ball nipping back off the seam Jimmy Adams played on off the back foot, onto his middle stump as Durham picked up their first bowling bonus point.

Neil McKenzie survived through until stumps and looked increasingly calm at the crease, with only a mis timed pull shot that took a top edge falling safe at fine leg. McKenzie finishing not out on 46. At the other end James Vince also batted with caution, surviving a huge Callum Thorp lbw shout he ended the day unbeaten on 4 as Hampshire closed on 77-3.

The Durham pace-men will be hopeful of better weather conditions on day two as they look to take the remaining Hampshire wickets and maximum bowling bonus points, building their lead at the top of the LV= County Championship table.

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