Harmison helps to deny Essex

Cook takes a rare wicket but hosts can't finish with a flourish

Last updated: 10th September 2010  

Harmison helps to deny Essex

Harmison: Fell just short of a century

LV County Championship - Division One
Chelmsford - Day Four
Essex 268 (J C Mickleburgh 72) & 367 (M J Walker 105, A N Cook 68, A P Palladino 66, J S Foster 64, I D Blackwell 4-70, C Rushworth 4-90) v Durham 177 (B W Harmison 66, C J C Wright 5-70, A P Palladino 4-57) & 234-6 (B W Harmison 96, M J Di Venuto 58)
Essex (8pts) drew with Durham (6pts)


Related links

Teams

Also see

Essex failed to end their one-year stay in Division One with a victory as Durham safely batted out for a draw on the final day at Chelmsford.

Ben Harmison just failed to record what would have been only his second Championship century as the visitors reached 234-6 before the players shook hands.

They had resumed in the morning on 31-1 in pursuit of a victory target of 459. However any hopes they had of a successful run chase disappeared when they slipped to 95-4 with the departure of Michael Di Venuto for 58.

When Ian Blackwell became an lbw victim of Tom Westley with the total on 143, Essex looked to be on course to claim only their third LV=County Championship win of the season.

Harmison, though, had other ideas. The all-rounder hit 14 fours to reach 96 before becoming a rare victim for Alastair Cook's off-spin, the England opener having to bowl to make sure Essex increased the over rate.

The fall of the sixth wicket led to an early finish, Phil Mustard finishing up unbeaten on 24 from 103 deliveries. Essex pick up eight points but are certain to finish with the wooden spoon.

Day Three

Already-relegated Essex could be set to bid farewell to Division One of the LV= County Championship on a winning note after setting Durham a daunting target at Chelmsford.

Matt Walker's first century of the season helped Essex make 367 in their second innings, leaving the visitors chasing 459. When bad light ended play nine overs early they had progressed to 31-1, Mark Stoneman the man to go.

Essex, who had resumed on 103-1, lost four wickets for the addition of just 17 runs in the morning. Alastair Cook was one of the early casualties, the England opener going lbw to left-arm spinner Ian Blackwell for 68.

Paceman Chris Rushworth (4-90) removed Jaik Mickleburgh, Mark Pettini and Tom Westley in the space of 13 balls to leave the home side on 120-5.

However Walker combined with skipper James Foster to bat Essex out of trouble, the pair putting on 133 in 42 overs before the latter fell for 64.

Walker went on to make 105 while Palladino weighed in with some useful late runs, hitting 11 fours and a six to make 66 from just 61 deliveries. Both players were eventually dismissed by Blackwell, who ended with 4-70.

Day Two

Essex were consigned to relegation from Division One of the LV= County Championship despite bowling out Durham for 177 on day two at Chelmsford.

Chris Wright and Tony Palladino produced their best figures of the season as Essex managed to gain a first-innings lead of 91 over the reigning champions.

It could have been even worse for Durham after they had slipped to 5-4 inside 21 balls, Gordon Muchall (three) the only member of their top four to get off the mark.

Ben Harmison led something of a recovery with 66 from 158 balls with eight fours. He put on 53 with Ian Blackwell, who made 24, for the fifth wicket

Visiting skipper Phil Mustard weighed in with 31 before falling to Palladino, who finished with 4-70. Wright went one better with 5-70, wrapping up the innings by removing Chris Rushworth. Mitchell Claydon was left on 38 not out.

Essex extended their advantage to 194 by reaching the close on 103-1 in their second innings, thanks mainly to an unbeaten 61 from England opener Alastair Cook.

Day One

Jaik Mickleburgh again showed his liking for the Durham attack with an impressive 72 at Chelmsford.

The 20-year-old right-hander, who took 174 off Durham earlier this season, was the star performer as the hosts closed on 248 for nine on a day cut short by 10 overs because of rain.

But it was not such a rewarding day for England opener Alastair Cook. He progressed to 33 without too much trouble but then undid his good work by pulling a delivery from Liam Plunkett into the hands of Mitchell Claydon at square leg.

Matt Walker was another to perish in the 30s, caught off Blackwell by Mark Stoneman at leg slip, after helping Mickleburgh add 74 for the third wicket.

Following Mickleburgh's dismissal - driving straight into the hands of Dale Benkenstein at mid-off when Scott Borthwick gave one of his leg breaks a little more air - skipper James Foster reached 20 for the first time in eight Championship innings and also guided Essex to their first batting point in four games.

Foster had moved to within eight runs of his half century, an effort containing seven boundaries, when he was trapped leg before by Plunkett with the second new ball.

Plunkett's two wickets came at a cost of 27 runs, while spinners Blackwell and Borthwick also picked up two scalps apiece at a cost of 30 and 41 runs respectively.