Rain ruins Durham push
Durham were frustrated by the weather on day three at Chester-le-Street, where only 12.2 overs were bowled in the Championship leaders' Division One match against Nottinghamshire
04-Aug-2011
Durham were frustrated by the weather on day three at Chester-le-Street, where only 12.2 overs were bowled in the Championship leaders' Division One match against Nottinghamshire. Durham go into the final day on 37 for 2 in their second innings, leading by
127 and are likely to find it difficult to set a target without risking defeat.
After a delayed start only six overs were possible, Durham advancing from six
to 22 without loss, before another break. Play resumed at 2.50pm and in 6.2 overs they lost both openers. Will Smith was first to go when he hit a long hop from Charlie Shreck straight to Sam Kelsall at cover.
Without further addition Gordon Muchall pushed forward and edged a good ball from Darren Pattinson to Chris Read. Paul Collingwood surprised Shreck by turning a straight ball behind square for four, then pulled Pattinson to the midwicket rope and top-edged an attempted
hook to fine leg for another boundary. He evidently intended to make up for some of the lost time, but was cut short by further rain, which proved terminal.
Durham's usual opener, Michael Di Venuto, is not expected to take any further part in the match because of a finger injury suffered in trying to take a slip catch. An X-ray has shown no break and the club remain hopeful he will be fit for Sunday's Friends Life t20 quarter-final against Hampshire at the Rose Bowl.
