Durham vs UCCE day 1, Peng in charge

By Jon Steer
May 9 2003

Jon Lewis won the toss again as Durham faced the University at the University Ground. After electing to bat Durham didn't have things all their own way and looked in trouble at 35/3 until Gary Pratt and Nicky Peng came to the wicket.

Durham have fielded a strong team for the UCCE game, no doubt trying to give the regulars as much play as possible after a disappointing start to their Championship campaign.

Wells, Harmison and Srinath were missing, giving opportunities to Gordon Muchall and the bowling pair of Ian Hunter and Liam Plunkett who performed well in midweek playing the County Board side against Glamorgan in the C&G trophy. Plunkett makes his first class debut.

Although they scored quickly, Durham were soon facing embarassment at 35/3 with Gough, Lewis and Muchall disappointing. That brought together Gary Pratt and Nicky Peng who were soon scoring freely.

Peng reached his century from 93 balls in the over before lunch with Gary Pratt still with him on 59 not out and the score bang on 200, a partnership so far of 165.

The partnership continued after lunch and Pratt was pushing for his own century when he was dismissed for 96. Nicky Peng continued to score well until he was out for 158 from just 138 balls. In the next over Andy Pratt was out having just scored one run and the score on 304/6.

Danny Law and Ian Hunter continued to push the score along with a partnership of 87 which ended when Hunter was out just three runs short of his half century, a performance which if added to with the ball tomorrow could bring him into contention for a regular first team spot.

Law reached his half century and went on to make 74. Liam Plunkett and Nick Phillips were still there at the close by which time Durham had reached 450/8.

The match is being played at the University ground instead of at the Riverside as originally scheduled to allow extra preparation of a wicket for the forthcoming test match.