Unbeaten Durham’s best is yet to come – Campbell
COACH’S WARNING AFTER HAMPSHIRE STALEMATE
RYAN Campbell said Durham’s best was yet to come after the Vitality County Championship stalemate against Hampshire at Southampton.
Felix Organ and James Vince put on 53 yesterday to take Hampshire out of a mini-collapse to complete a draw which had been inescapable since Friday.
Durham are still undefeated since their return to Division One, and head coach Campbell hailed a battling display from his side at the Utilita Bowl.
“When you play on a used wicket and lose the toss and have to bowl first you know you are in for some hard work. We have battled away really well and I’m so proud of our bowling group,” he said.
“You could say we were hit for 500 and fold and walk away meekly but our group doesn’t do that.
“I hate playing for draws but there are occasions where there are no other options and unfortunately that’s the way this game led.
“You haven’t seen anywhere our best cricket yet this season yet. We have hung in there and battled but the fact is other than the game we won, we haven’t been in a position to win games so far this season.
“The exciting thing for me is that when we bring our A-game in the back end, we will be very dangerous.”
Matthew Potts (2-19) reminded England of his skill by removing Hampshire’s openers and added a small amount of jeopardy back into the match. But Organ and Vince made it safe with risk-free blocking before bad light and rain brought about the inevitable result at 3.40pm.
For three days, this had the feeling of a certain draw, but for a short spell yesterday morning Durham sensed an unlikely victory. They lost their last two first-innings wickets – Callum Parkinson bowled after the ball rolled back onto his stumps and Peter Siddle paddled to short fine leg – either side of Ben Raine picking up his 19th first-class fifty in 95 balls.
It gave Hampshire a 71-run firstinnings lead, having seen Liam Dawson and Organ bowl more overs than they ever had in an innings – 66 and 42.5 overs respectively – and were rewarded with 5-184 and 4-101. Dawson’s were the third most ever in an innings by a Hampshire bowler. With rain around and a stone-dead pitch, that felt like that, but Potts had other ideas.
The six-times-capped Test fast bowler shook off his indifferent early-season form to blast out Hampshire’s two openers.
Ali Orr, who had scored a splendid first-innings century – was undone by a ball in a testing area, with perhaps a little lift, to edge behind to Ollie Robinson in the third over.
Fletcha Middleton was unluckier as a good length delivery stayed low and slipped under his bat and into his stumps. Potts’ first five-over spell returned 2-8.
“Potts hasn’t had much help with the wickets but he never gives in,” added Campbell. “He keeps trucking in and probably bowled quicker at the end of day one than the start – which is a really good sign for him.”
With Nick Gubbins absent following the birth of his daughter on Sunday and a skittish start that had seen the ball replaced after the very first delivery and then at the start of the fifth over, Hampshire suddenly appeared startled.
But Organ – jumping back up the order from No.8 to deputise for Gubbins – and captain Vince settled things back into the groove of the previous three days, albeit with zero intent to score runs.
Spinner Parkinson remained unchanged from the Hotel End in the 37 overs bowled before bad light took the players off at 2.45pm, which proved terminal and meant only 22 wickets had fallen in the match for fewer than 1,000 runs.