Di Venuto makes the running

May 15 2008 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

DURHAM’S County Championship season is in its infancy, yesterday being only their eighth day of cricket, but disturbing – and familiar – patterns are developing.

On the opening day of four at home to Yorkshire, the Riversiders posted easily their highest score of 2008 – they finished on 337-6 overnight – and their first century, but the over-riding feeling was of what might have been.

Too often last year Durham’s batting was worryingly dependent on Michael Di Venuto and Dale Benkenstein and despite a number of factors in their favour, yesterday was little different.

So when Benkenstein played a shot belying his experience with a big score in the offing, it was left to Di Venuto to carry Durham on a day when his colleagues should have been touching up their averages.

Fortunately the Tasmanian was well up to the task and with no team-mate to run him out he was 184 not out at stumps, 20 short of his Durham best.

For the first time in six matches, Benkenstein won the toss and there were plenty of other reasons to believe his luck was in. Whereas Lancashire were unrecognisably strong at Old Trafford last week, Yorkshire’s attack at Chester-le-Street looked less daunting.

Matthew Hoggard will play in this game but England’s caution means it will probably be the second innings before he bowls. The Three Lions announced yesterday morning the veteran seamer will not figure at Lord’s but he cannot leave London until the teams are handed in at today’s toss. Hoggard’s temporary replacement (Championship rules allow him to take the reins when he surfaces) is Ben Sanderson, a 19-year-old debutant who had taken only 11 second XI wickets before a 6-30 stint against Nottinghamshire last week.

Sanderson was selected after Ajmal Shahzad’s promising start to the season was disrupted by injury with his county between overseas bowlers.

Di Venuto and Mark Stoneman made 96 for the first wicket until the latter fended at a Tim Bresnan delivery and was caught in the slips. His partner was already looking in good touch, never more so than when rocking back to pull in front of square, the shot which brought his only six and plenty of his 25 fours.

Having been run out in his last two innings, the same fate nearly befell Di Venuto again but he made his ground before Bresnan deflected Neil McKenzie’s drive onto the stumps. Three overs later a diving Ashley Lyth dropped a difficult gully chance with Di Venuto on 68 and the Tykes never got another.

Kyle Coetzer laboured 36 balls either side of lunch before getting off the mark and only lasted a further five, edging to slips. It took a good catch by wicket-keeper Gerard Brophy to dismiss McKenzie for five, but the fact remains he is yet to add to his half century against the same opponents on his debut.

Benkenstein looked like he would steady the ship as Di Venuto accelerated in a second session in which he scored 89. But from the fourth ball after tea – and Anthony McGrath’s first over of the day – he pulled a long hop to Adil Rashid at mid-wicket.

Phil Mustard was equally charitable, stooping to edge a wide one from McGrath, while Ben Harmison fended the new ball behind.

Harmison is making a habit of starts which promise plenty but deliver little. With no Championship wickets yet this season, the all-rounder’s place will come under scrutiny until he makes a big contribution. If they can bowl well, Durham’s team is in a good early position, but many of the individuals within it are still finding their feet.