Pears trio shine with the bat to frustrate Durham

HALE-centuries from Rehaan Edavalath, Brett D’Oliveira and Gareth Roderick helped Division Two-bound Worcestershire frustrate relegation candidates Durham on day two of their Rothesay County Championship clash.

- BY THOMAS RIDLEY, ECB REPORTERS NETWORK SUPPORTED BY ROTHESAY

Durham struck twice in the morning session to leave the visitors 49 for two, but 21-year-old Edavalath and 19-year-old Dan Lategan combined for a partnership worth 84 to steer their side out of a spot of trouble.

Durham bounced back with a double-wicket burst, removing the pair in the afternoon, but Roderick and D’Oliveira frustrated Durham, picking up their own half-centuries in a partnership worth 170, the highest fifth wicket partnership for their side in the fixture, to take the Pears to 320 for five at close.

After a washout on day one, Durham won the toss and elected to bowl first in their crucial clash with the Pears.

Jake Libby got off the mark early on with a tidy shot through the covers from the bowling of Ben Raine. The Worcestershire opening pair of Libby and Edavalath managed to negate some probing bowling from Raine and Matthew Potts without taking many risks during the first half hour.

Raine was rewarded for the pressure he built up as Libby was caught behind for 14, after he chased one down the legside. A second soon followed as Kashif Ali edged a Potts delivery straight into the hands of David Bedingham at third slip for 10.