Image: Durham ended Day 2 with a 53-run lead over Surrey / © BBC
The second day of the County Championship Division One match between Durham and Surrey at Chester-le-Street was a rollercoaster of emotions, with both teams fighting tooth and nail. Surrey started the day at 182/5 in their first innings, eyeing a big lead over Durham’s modest 153. Dan Lawrence, on 68 not out, and Jordan Clark, on 19, were at the crease, ready to pile on the runs and put Durham under pressure.
The morning session saw Lawrence and Clark bat with grit and flair. Lawrence played like a man on a mission, scoring 88 runs off 116 balls, with 12 fours and a six, at a strike rate of about 76. He was calm and collected, picking gaps with precise cover drives that left Durham’s fielders chasing shadows. His ability to switch between defence and attack kept the scoreboard ticking. Clark, meanwhile, was all aggression, blasting 82 off 76 balls, with eight fours and two sixes. He took on Durham’s bowlers, especially Codi Yusuf, with bold lofted drives and cracking pulls that flew over the infield.
Their sixth-wicket stand added 85 runs, taking Surrey to 209 and giving them a strong hold on the game. The tide turned when Lawrence fell, caught at slip by Colin Ackermann off Yusuf’s bowling. That wicket was a game-changer, opening up Surrey’s lower order and giving Durham a glimmer of hope. Ben Raine, Durham’s hero with the ball, was unstoppable, finishing with a brilliant 5 wickets for 72 runs in 20.1 overs. His bowling was tight, with just enough swing to keep the batsmen guessing. After Lawrence’s exit, Raine struck again, trapping Cameron Steel lbw for 27 off 58 balls, with three fours and a six. Steel had dug in, adding 70 runs with Clark, but Raine’s pinpoint line got him.
Tom Lawes, scoring 8 off 9 balls, was bowled by Raine, and Sai Kishore, with 6 off 11, nicked one to the keeper off Callum Parkinson. Clark’s fiery knock ended when he was caught by Bas de Leede off Raine, wrapping up Surrey’s innings at 322 in 68.1 overs. Raine’s spell was the heart of Durham’s fight. His economy of 3.57, with five maidens, showed his control, and he’d earlier taken out big names like Rory Burns for 2, Dom Sibley for 12, and Sam Curran for 4.
Codi Yusuf backed him up with 2 wickets for 64, getting Lawrence and Ben Foakes, who made 11 off 14. Callum Parkinson took 2 for 54, including Kishore, while Matthew Potts got 1 for 82, and Bas de Leede went for 38 without a wicket. Surrey’s 322, helped by 20 extras like byes and leg byes, gave them a 169-run lead, solid, but Durham’s bowlers, led by Raine, kept it within reach.
Durham had a mountain to climb in their second innings, needing to wipe out a 169-run deficit and build a lead to stay in the game. Surrey’s bowlers came out swinging, and Jordan Clark struck early, getting Durham captain Alex Lees lbw for 20 off 24 balls in the fifth over. Lees had looked good, stroking four boundaries, but a full ball that jagged back caught him out, leaving Durham at 23/1. That early blow put the pressure on Durham’s batsmen to hold firm. Ben McKinney and Emilio Gay answered the call, putting on a vital 73-run stand for the second wicket.
McKinney was cautious, scoring 24 off 64 balls with four fours, focusing on seeing off Surrey’s fiery attack. Gay, though, played with freedom, attacking the bowlers with confidence. Their partnership took Durham to 96/2 before Sai Kishore got McKinney, caught by Dan Lawrence. Kishore’s spin was disciplined, finishing with 2 wickets for 36 runs in 21 overs, his turn and control keeping Durham’s batsmen on their toes. Emilio Gay was the star of Durham’s fightback, scoring a stunning 99 off 108 balls, with 11 fours and a six, at a strike rate of nearly 92. His innings was a mix of rock-solid defence and flashy attack, with gorgeous drives through the covers and sharp cuts off the back foot.
A lofted six off Kishore over cover was a moment of pure class, showing he could take on any bowler. Gay’s 77-run stand with Colin Ackermann for the third wicket pushed Durham into the lead. Ackermann played a steady 43 off 121 balls, with five fours, holding one end while Gay went after the bowlers. Together, they erased the deficit, giving Durham a fighting chance. Surrey’s bowlers hit back as Durham took the lead. Sam Curran, bowling 10 overs for 1 wicket and 39 runs, got the huge wicket of Gay, caught by Kishore at cover for 99, just one run shy of a century.
That dismissal stopped Durham in their tracks. Ollie Robinson, the wicketkeeper-batsman, chipped in with 25 off 36 balls, including four fours, in a 36-run stand with Ackermann. His attacking style kept the runs flowing, but Kishore struck again, getting Robinson caught by Lawrence, leaving Durham at 209/4. Dan Lawrence then bowled 14 overs of spin, taking 1 wicket for 44 runs, and got Ackermann, caught by Ryan Patel in the 62nd over. Ackermann’s patient knock ended just as Durham looked to build further.
Graham Clark, unbeaten on 7 off 37 balls, and Codi Yusuf, 0 not out off 12, saw out the day, taking Durham to 222/5 after 67 overs, with a lead of 53 runs. Clark played it safe, focusing on survival, while Yusuf, mainly a bowler, faced a tough spell from Surrey’s seamers, standing firm. Surrey’s bowling was led by Sai Kishore, whose 21 overs at an economy of 1.71 were key in keeping Durham in check.
His tight lines and spin made scoring tough. Jordan Clark, with 1 for 24, and Sam Curran got big wickets, while Lawrence’s spin took out Ackermann. Daniel Worrall, so good in the first innings, went wicketless, giving up 50 runs in 10 overs, as Gay and others played him well. Tom Lawes, with 0 for 25, was pricey and couldn’t break through.
Day two at Chester-le-Street belonged to Emilio Gay’s incredible 99 in Durham’s second innings. With a 169-run deficit to overcome, Gay walked in after Alex Lees’ early exit and played a knock for the ages. His 99 off 108 balls, with 11 fours and a six, was pure class, blending solid defence with attacking flair. His drives through the off-side were crisp, and a lofted six off Sai Kishore over cover was a moment of magic.
Gay’s partnerships of 73 runs with Ben McKinney and 77 with Colin Ackermann, wiped out the deficit, taking Durham to a 53-run lead at 222/5 after 67 overs. He handled Surrey’s attack, from Worrall’s pace to Kishore’s spin, with ease. But his dismissal for 99, caught by Kishore off Sam Curran in the 43rd over, was TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Game. Falling just short of a century, Gay’s exit gave Surrey a lifeline, halting Durham’s charge and setting up a thrilling third day.
Ben Raine was the hero of day two for his sensational bowling in Surrey’s first innings. His 5 wickets for 72 runs in 20.1 overs, with an economy of 3.57 and five maidens, was a masterclass. Raine struck early, getting Surrey captain Rory Burns for 2, and went on to dismiss Dom Sibley (12), Sam Curran (4), Cameron Steel (27), and the dangerous Jordan Clark (82).
His tight line and subtle swing frustrated Surrey’s batsmen, breaking their momentum and ensuring regular wickets. Raine’s effort kept Surrey to 322, stopping them from running away with the game and keeping Durham in the fight. His grit and skill under pressure made him TCNI’s Hero of the Day.