Durham v Worcestershire: Day One close

Jun 30 2009 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

Durham's top order had a nightmare for the second successive Championship game at the Riverside to unexpectedly let Worcestershire back into the contest at the end of day one.

Having bowled Worceershire out for 193 in impressive style - Liam Plunkett taking career-best bowling figures of 6-63 - Durham's batsmen contrived to give the visitors a foothold in the match.

First, Michael Di Venuto chopped the ball on to his own stumps trying to pull Kabir Ali to the boundary without scoring. The Australian is the reassuring presence at the top of the order and he was immediately followed back into the dressing room by captain Will Smith.

Smith has struggled for form all season and he was clean bowled by Ali first ball as Worcestershire - probably anticipating a long spell in the field - celebrated their surprising ferocity with the ball in suitably wild fashion.

Ali could not secure a hat-trick, Gordon Muchall fending the ball off defensively, but they made another dent in the Durham batting next over when Muchall fell to the Australian Matt Mason.

Durham, who also collapsed to 10-4 against Lancashire a fortnight ago, were in all sorts of difficulty at 1-3, before Kyle Coetzer and Dale Benkenstein regained a degree of scoreboard respectability. Benkenstein has 17 and Coetzer 20 as Durham reached 40-3 at the close on day one.