Wickets tumble at the Riverside

DURHAM 153 (Ackermann 51; Worrall 4-31) v Surrey 182-5 (Patel 58, Lawrence 68*)

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FIFTEEN wickets fell on the opening day of the vital Rothesay County Championship at the Banks Homes Riverside and title-chasing Surrey will be the happier side after ending 29 runs ahead of Durham with five wickets in hand.

But after dismissing the home side for 153, the champions were 27 for three before half-centuries by Ryan Patel and Dan Lawrence.

Surrey ended on 182 for five, with Lawrence unbeaten on 68 and their lead could be crucial on a pitch that appears helpful to most bowlers.

The visitors made their first breakthrough in the seventh over when Ben McKinney clipped Dan Worrall off his toes to Patel, placed at short midwicket for such an indiscretion.