Complete batting performance has Durham in command over Glamorgan

Durham are in complete command of their LV= Insurance County Championship match against Glamorgan, with the visitors requiring a further 335 to avoid an innings defeat at Emirates Riverside.

The home side were relentless with the bat to surge into a dominant 406-run lead. Michael Jones, Ben Raine, Liam Trevaskis and Ned Eckersley all scored half-centuries, while Sean Dickson and David Bedingham fell narrowly short of fifties in a complete performance from the batting unit. Durham posted their first score of over 500 of the season before they declared in the evening session.

Glamorgan lost early wickets in their second innings to ramp up the pressure on the Welsh outfit. The visitors require a mammoth effort to force the hosts to bat again with only eight wickets remaining heading into day three of the contest.

Resuming on 223 for 3, the home side lost Bedingham clean bowled to Michael Hogan as the South African added only three runs to his overnight score, missing out on the opportunity to pass 1,000 first-class runs for the campaign. However, Durham pressed on and added their second batting bonus point with Eckersley and Dickson adding quick runs for the fifth wicket.

Dickson was hobbled after suffering a calf injury while attempting a run, forcing Jones to act as a runner. The former Kent man was not deterred by his injury and still managed to score 46 before being bowled by an inswinger from Hogan after the introduction of the second new ball.

Eckersley maintained the momentum and recorded his third fifty of the season from just 68 deliveries, scoring six boundaries in the process. Although Eckersley was removed by a brilliant diving catch by Nick Selman at first slip for 57, Raine continued to compound Durham's advantage. He notched his 12th fifty in first-class cricket to usher the home side past the 400-run mark with maximum batting points.

Raine appeared on course to post a career-best, sharing a stand worth 98 with Liam Trevaskis for the eighth wicket. The left-hander fell for 74 attempting to push the scoring rate and was caught on the fence by Eddie Byrom. Trevaskis took up the mantle with his first fifty of the season after the departure of Raine, ensuring that Durham mustered a lead of over 400.

Scott Borthwick called in his side after posting a dominant total of 503 for 8, handing Glamorgan a tough period to negotiate before the close. The visitors were under pressure from the off as Matthew Potts and Paul Coughlin dismissed David Lloyd and Selman respectively. Hamish Rutherford survived a few nervy edges through the slips to ensure that were only two down at the close, unbeaten on 32 alongside Byrom on 17.