Durham’s valiant resistance against Warwickshire’s mammoth total of 698 for 3 declared fell short on the third day of their Vitality County Championship clash at Edgbaston. Despite a determined rearguard action, Durham was bowled out for 517, trailing by 169 runs and facing a follow-on.
Alex Lees led the Durham charge with a gritty 145 off 240 balls, while Ben Raine contributed a valuable 93 off 125 deliveries. Graham Clark (76) and Ollie Robinson (60) also made significant contributions, but Warwickshire’s depleted attack, led by off-spinner Rob Yates, chipped away at the Durham batting lineup.
Yates claimed a career-best four for 137, including the wickets of Clark and Raine. Will Rhodes and Olly Hannon-Dalby also played key roles, with Rhodes dismissing Lees and Hannon-Dalby removing the dangerous Matt Potts.
Trailing by 181 runs on first innings, Durham closed day three on 12 for two, with the daunting task of batting out day four to avoid defeat. The pitch has proven to be relatively benign, with only 15 wickets falling in three days.
The match has been characterized by high-scoring innings, with both teams boasting multiple individual three-figure scores. Durham’s first innings featured four centuries, while Warwickshire’s first innings included six.
Despite the setback, Durham remains hopeful of salvaging a draw. The pitch is expected to continue to offer little assistance to the bowlers, and the visitors will need to dig deep and show the same resilience they displayed on day three.
