Durham push for victory after Nathan Rimmington 92 completes turnaround

Durham made an early breakthrough after captain Cameron Bancroft set Leicestershire a formidable 393 to win the Specsavers County Championship match at the Fischer County Ground.

Foxes captain Paul Horton was caught behind by Ned Eckersley, a fine low catch diving to his right by the former Leicestershire player, off the bowling of Nathan Rimmington shortly before the close. It completed an excellent day's work for Rimmington, who after coming in as nightwatchman the previous evening, went on to make 92 as Durham piled on the runs in their second innings

Resuming at the start of play on 191 for 1, Rimmington and Alex Lees extended their partnership to 71 before Lees, within sight of what would have been a third Championship century of the season, was unfortunate to glove a leg-side delivery from Gavin Griffiths through to wicketkeeper Lewis Hill.

Rimmington continued to thrive however, reaching his half-century off 71 balls, including six fours and a six, and with Gareth Harte playing himself in solidly, the visitors passed 300 shortly before the lunch.

Having toiled away all morning with just one success, Leicestershire did manage to pick up four more wickets in the afternoon session, three of which came as Durham added just one run to their score. Rimmington, on 92, went leg before to a Mohammad Abbas delivery which seamed back in, Jack Burnham was bowled by a Neil Dexter outswinger for a single, and then Harte also went leg before to Abbas, reducing Durham from 349 for 2 to 350 for 5.

Graham Clark and Liam Trevaskis repaired some of the damage with a stand of 34 before Clark, responding to his partner's call, was run out by Colin Ackermann's direct hit from backward point, but Trevaskis and Eckersley then compiled an impressive century partnership off just 19.3 overs to enable Bancroft to declare after Trevaskis had holed out to long-on off Griffiths.