Alex Lees 163* underpins Durham victory push

An undefeated hundred from England opener Alex Lees put Durham in charge of their LV= Insurance County Championship fixture against Glamorgan in Cardiff as the visitors reached 348 for 3, a first-innings lead of 114.

Much of the previous two days have been lost to weather but Durham have put themselves in a position where they could push for a win.

Lees was well supported by captain Scott Borthwick who made 64 and David Bedingham who made a quick-fire half-century as just three wickets fell on the third day of this match. Durham will resume their first innings on the final day and will need quick runs and quick wickets if they are to claim a positive result.

Lees, back with Durham after making his Test debut last month in the Caribbean, looked in excellent touch on his way to 163 not out. He took his guard outside off stump when the Glamorgan seamers came around the wicket and this neutralised much of their threat, although there were two very good shouts for lbw early in his innings that were turned down.

Michael Jones and Sean Dickson were both dismissed by Timm van der Gugten who bowled with decent pace and late movement. The other Glamorgan seamers found success harder to come by and although there were times when Lees played and missed, edges were not found and appeals were not upheld.

With the short boundary on the Grandstand side of the ground and a quick outfield Glamorgan's bowlers did a good job to keep things tight even with wickets hard to come by. The best chance for a further dismissal in the afternoon session was when van der Gugten induced a leading edge from Borthwick that ballooned just over the head of Kiran Carlson in the covers.

Durham reached the tea interval at 163 for 2 with Lees and Borthwick both in control. Lees reached his 18th first-class century from 226 balls, getting to the landmark with a lovely drive for four through wide mid-on off Callum Taylor.

Borthwick passed his fifty from 93 balls as he and Lees shared a stand worth 147 for the third wicket. It was the seventh bowler Glamorgan used, Andrew Salter, who got the breakthrough when Borthwick drove one into the hands of Sam Northeast at midwicket.

There was a changed of gears once Lees reached his hundred with the scoring rate ticking upwards, but it was when Bedingham came to the crease that the push for the win really started. The South African continued his fantastic form for Western Province in his first match of this season with Durham as he passed fifty from just 56 balls. His last three first-class innings before this match were 81, 71 and 199. He was on 74 from 78 balls at the close.

There are 104 overs scheduled for Sunday and the quick rate that Durham put on their runs in the evening session has set up an interesting final day.