Durham spinners claim the rewards

Jon Lewis - 10th 50
By Jon Steer
August 15 2003

Glamorgan ended their first innings 89 ahead of Durham. The spin of Bridge and Phillips accounted for nine wickets, with Phillips taking 5-144 as Glamorgan secured maximum bonus points.

After showing of their fine batting ability, Graham Bridge and Nicky Phillips had to shoulder the majority of the bowling as Glamorgan built up the runs.

The two spinners bowled over 80 overs between them and took nine wickets. Phillips returned slightly better figures with 5-144, while Bridge finished with 4-114. It was the first time this season that the two spinners had played together and only the second time this season that a Durham bowler has taken five wickets in an innings.

The Glamorgan lower order frustrated Durham's quest for maximum bowling points, the ninth wicket falling just after the 130 overs cut off point, meaning that Durham score a total of six bonus points to Glamorgans eight.

Durham's second innings began well with the openers sharing in a stand of 61 before Michael Gough fell the the left arm spin of Cosker for 25. Jon Lewis and Martin Love took us through to tea with Lewis completing his 10th half century of the season and passing 1000 County Championship run with the score on 119-1, a lead of 30.

With promotion rivals Yorkshire losing and scoring a total of three points, a win or a draw against Glamorgan would see Durham leapfrog Yorkshire and Gloucestershire into third place in the division.