Riverside defeat

By Richard Watts
May 29 2007

Yorkshire lost their unbeaten record in the Championship when they were beaten by an Ottis Gibson inspired Durham by four wickets. The 38 year old West Indian had match figures 10 for 144 and scored a valuable 71 in Durham’s first innings. Jacques Rudolph with a century and a half century was the star man for Yorkshire.

Yorkshire won the toss and batted but were soon in trouble. Sayers and McGrath went early to leave the Tykes 35 for 2. Craig White dug in and was joined by Younus Khan. Watchful at first the pair had started to put Yorkshire into a strong position when after a partnership of 110 Gibson struck a double blow. Moving the ball about he forced White to leave one and he was bowled for a well made 64 (9 fours). Then fourteen runs later he took the vital wicket of Younus for 49 (8 fours) to leave Yorkshire on 158 for 4. A rebuilding job was required by Jacques Rudolph and Aidl Rashid. Rudolph went through to a very good 50 and Rashid played well to get to 30 when Davies induced him to give a catch to keeper Mustard. Bresnan joined Rudolph and at tea Yorkshire stood at 245 for 5. Bresnan made 27 before Gibson struck again removing him after a partnership of 51. Rudolph played some great shots going through to his century from 169 balls. Simon Guy came in at number eight and survived finishing the day 25 not out, Rudolph finished the day 104 not out as Yorkshire reached 351 for 6.  Gibson ensured that Yorkshire's good score overnight did not become any better than that. Jacques Rudolph added 7 to his overnight score before being bowled by Gibson 111 (190 balls, 17 fours & 1 six). He then sent back Simon Guy for his overnight total of 25. Gough and Gillespie made 17 and 15 respectively as Yorkshire's innings closed on 393. Gibson 7 for 81.

Yorkshire made early inroads into the Durham batting, a wicket each for Gough and Gillespie reduced the home side to 17 for 2. The score then moved to 83 before Gillespie struck again sending back Muchall lbw for 48. Skipper Benkenstein then joined the Coetzer (who has represented Scotland at ICC level) and the pair brought Durham right back into the game. They put on 131 before McGrath came on and picked up his first wicket of the season, sending back 23 year old Coetzer for 91 (170 balls, 14 fours & 1 six) to leave Durham on 214 for 4. Keeper Mustard who took four catches in the Tykes innings joined Benkenstein. The Durham captain was happy to play the anchor role while Mustard (who has been in particularly good form recently) went on the attack. When bad light stopped play they had put on 79. Mustard 53 not out (66 balls, 10 fours) and Benkenstein 64 not out (155 balls, 8 fours). Durham stood on 293 for 4, 100 behind. A good start to the third day for Yorkshire with Gillespie and Gough bowling well and sending back overnight batsmen Mustard (59) and Benkenstein (68) to reduce Durham to for 322 for 6. That was as good as it got for Yorkshire as Ottis Gibson continued to be a thorn in their side. He made a rapid 71 (74 balls) and with the Durham tail wagging; Wiseman 27, Davies 21, Onions 21 and last man Claydon 14 not out Durham were finally dismissed for 481 a lead of 88. Gillespie was the pick of Yorkshire's bowlers with 3 for 73, Gough took 3 for 76.

A poor start to Yorkshire's second innings with Craig White dismissed by Onions to the third ball of the innings for 0. It got worse when Yorkshire's rock at the top of the innings Sayers fell to Gibson for 2 and then Onions, looking a bowler of International class, removed Younus to leave Yorkshire reeling at 17 for 3. McGrath and Rudolph then steadied the ship, they had put on 87 with McGrath looking solid but with the last ball before tea New Zealand off spinner Wiseman had sent back McGrath for 62 (86 balls, 11 fours) to leave Yorkshire in deep trouble at 104 for 4. Straight after tea Gibson got amongst the wickets again getting rid of Rashid to his fifth ball for a duck 111 for 5. Onions then hit Bresnan's stumps to remove him for nought, 116 for 6. Guy joined Rudolph, Rudolph playing well moved to his half century. Guy moved on to 28, partnership of 60 before Durham struck again, this time ex Yorkshire bowler Claydon getting into the act having Guy caught behind by Mustard. At 176 for 7 Yorkshire were only 88 ahead. The score moved to 199 before Gibson again got a crucial wicket, sending back Rudolph for 79 (112 balls, 10 fours) the wickets kept falling, Onions getting Gough for the fourth duck of the innings. Yorkshire closed the day on 218 for 9 Jason Gillespie is 23 not out, For Durham Gibson has now taken 10 in the match (3 for 63), Onions has taken 4 for 53.  Yorkshire failed to add to their overnight score, Kruis falling to Onions with the second ball of the day. Onions finished with 5 for 53. Durham needed 131 to win, Yorkshire needed early wickets to be in with a chance, one each for Gough, Gillespie and Bresnan saw Durham wobble at 35 for 3 but unfortunately one of those early wickets wasn't the prolific Di Venuto whose 35 not out took Durham to a six wicket win.