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Durham easy winners over Middlesex

unlucky 99
By Jon Steer May 13 2006
Durham completed their second win of the season with a victory by 135 runs over struggling Middlesex. With Middlesex set a target of 368 Durham's main opposition was the weather but fears over a fourth day washout were unfounded.
In fact play started just five minutes late on the fourth day, despite heavy overnight rain and solid cloud cover. Middlesex started positively though and extended the fifth wicket partnership to 85 before Gibson had Compton caught behind. Jimmy Dalrymple continued to play his shots, moving on to 71 before he was also caught by Mustard, this time off the bowling of captain Dale Benkenstein. Middlesex keeper Ben Scott made a quick 49 before being bowled by Thorp before Onions and Gibson shared the final three wickets with Middlesex reaching 232.

Graham Onions finished with four wickets in each innings and his bowling along with Mick Lewis who took two in each innings were key factors in the result. Middlesex will look back to the dropped catches in the first innings, especially that of Jimmy Maher who was dropped on 4 only to go on make 106 and set up Durham's first innings lead.

Jon Lewis was the anchor for Durham's second innings, reaching 99 before playing a rare loose stroke to be caught at slip off the bowling of Alan Richardson. With the weather forecast at the time looking poor for the final day the decision not to throw the bat and then declare looked an odd one but perhaps the Durham camp had better information because they an early declaration could have been embarrassing with more play than expected possible on the final day.

As it was Middlesex were in trouble right from the start of their reply with that man Onions clean bowling both openers before the visitors had reached double figures. When Mick Lewis then proceeded to take the wickets of England hopefuls Owais Shah and Ed Joyce the writing was on the wall for Middlesex.

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