Hussey and Muchall sink Derbyshire

By Jon Steer
July 21 2005

Superb batting performances from Mike Hussey (96) and Gordon Muchall (70) saw Durham successfully chase down Derbyshire's total of 223 under lights. Durham eventually won by six wickets with 8 balls to spare.

The match started with Graham Onions making his bid to be included in the team for today's championship match. His opening spell reduced Derbyshire to 35-2 and he was the pick of the Durham bowlers, finishing with figures of 3 for 39 from his nine overs.

Killeen took two wickets and Noffke one but Killeen was not as economical as normal, going for 44 from eight overs. Collingwood and Breese were also expensive, together their ten overs cost 61 runs.

Derbyshire's total of 223 looked a tricky one, especially as Durham would be batting under lights for some of their innings. Derbyshire started badly, conceding eleven extras in the first two overs to give Durham a flying start. It wasn't until the first bowling change that Derbyshire made a breakthrough with Lungley getting Peng caught behind for just 15 with the score on 46.

Collingwood was batting at number three and scored a quick 26 and taking the score to 94-2. Muchall joined Hussey at the wicket and once he played himself in the pair really started to take the game away from Derbyshire with a stand that was eventually worth 128. Hussey was in sight of his century on 97 with just six runs needed for victory when he was caught off the bowling of Needham and then Muchall was bowled by ex Durham player Ian Hunter with the scores level.

A legbye was all it took to win the match for Durham with both players at the crease ending on 0.

The win takes Durham back to the top of division 2 and the squad will be hoping for a similar result in the championship match that starts today.