Collingwood and Benkenstein dominate

By Jon Steer
July 22 2005

Collingwood and Benkenstein shared a 250 run stand against Derbyshire. Colly equalled his highest first class score of 190 while Benks fell just short of his century at 98. Durham finished the day at 363-9 with the next highest score 18 from Gary Scott.

When Benkenstein joined Collingwood in the middle Durham were in trouble at 59-3 with Hussey, Scott and Muchall all out cheaply. The pair seemed to find scoring runs very easy and boundaries made up a large proportion of both scores. Colly's 190 included 28 fours and 2 sixes.

The pair batted throughout most of the morning and the entire afternoon session. Then after tea former Durham bowler Ian Hunter made the breakthrough when he had Benkentein caught for 98. By that time the score had moved on to 309-4 and the pair had put Durham in a great position.

Gareth Breese then scored 11 in a stand of 41 with Colly before falling lbw to Botha. But the collapse that followed was even worse than the start to the morning. Following Breese's dismissal Durham lost four further wickets for less than ten runs as they went from a commanding 350-4 to 359-9.

Collingwood's 190 equals his highest first class score and can only further his ambitions of securing a test place in the not too distant future.

Durham still look ina healthy position having decided to go into the match with four frontline bowlers in addition to Breese, Benks and Collingwood.