Durham’s Matthew Potts unleashed a devastating spell of bowling to secure a resounding innings and 63-run victory over Lancashire in the Vitality County Championship match at The Riverside.
Resuming on 155 for four, Lancashire needed 190 runs to avoid their fourth innings defeat of the season. However, Potts’ relentless pace and accuracy proved too much for the visitors, as he ripped through their batting lineup, claiming nine wickets for 68 runs.
Lancashire’s collapse began with George Balderson’s dismissal for 16, followed by Venkatesh Iyer and Tom Hartley’s quick departures. Potts’ hat-trick bid was denied by Tom Bailey, but the Durham spearhead soon had Bailey caught behind for 195 for eight.
Matty Hurst, who had scored a fifty in the first innings, provided some resistance with a gritty 67. However, Potts’ relentless pressure eventually forced Hurst to hook a delivery to long leg, where Callum Parkinson took a stunning catch.
Anderson Philip and Tom Aspinwall delayed the inevitable with a 61-run last-wicket stand, but Potts returned to dismiss Philip for 41, completing a match return of 12 for 126. Aspinwall remained unbeaten on 26.
Durham’s victory secures 24 points and effectively ends their relegation fears. Lancashire, on the other hand, take only one point, leaving them in ninth place in Division One and facing the prospect of relegation to the second tier.
The bad news for Durham is that Potts will now join England’s squad for the one-day internationals, making him unavailable for the county for the rest of the season.
