Rushworth, Pepper and Raine delight fans at Durham

SAM DALLING AT CHESTER-LE-STREET: 2,000 lucky entered Emirates Riverside to pay homage to Chris Rushworth and were treated to a bowling masterclass from the man himself, a four-for from Ben Raine and a plucky innings from Michael Pepper

Chester-le-Street (day one of four): Essex 182, Durham 58-6

Scorecard

Finally, after 611 days, the fifteen-minute amble from Chester-le-Street station to the Emirates Riverside was populated by a steady stream of cricket go-ers. A walk that used to mean so little, now, 20 months on, means so much.   

With Durham at Derbyshire last week, this was the first chance for the healthy crowd of 2,000 or so to pay homage to the record-breaking Chris Rushworth. It was the first time for them to see Scott Borthwick in action since his return to the north east.  It was the first day of the summer, the end of a bleak elongated winter, and fittingly a coat was finally surplus to requirements.   

By 8am there were scores outside the gates. Friends re-united, patrons taking up their usual spots, nodding knowingly to other regulars. "How ya doin’?" "Aye alreet – dodgy back but it’s been that way foreva."

A healthy throng outside the club shop patiently queued for their signed copies of 'The Best of Durham', the latest publication of the now retired Northern Echo’s cricket correspondent Tim Wellock. The Sticky Wicket once again served a cricket breakfast for a fiver (including tea or coffee as you asked). All seemed well in the world, although it should be remembered that tragically, some empty seats will never be re-filled.

Sport is an identity up here, woven into life’s fabric. A source of pride and a vessel into which one can pour emotion. And with the malaise infesting the region’s football teams, it is left to the cricketers to provide some collective light relief.   

It’s well documented that Durham and its fans have been through the ringer in recent times. From the highs of a third County Championship title in six seasons as recently as 2013, to the lows of their monetary demise in 2016 and all the burned trimmings that came with it. Ending the day level with Essex in Group One, from the darkness light is appearing.   

Until mid-afternoon the story was set to an unlikely one. In many ways it perhaps still is. Without their poster boy Dan Lawrence, the question was who would fill the not inconsiderable void?  The answer to the absence of Chingford’s favourite son, was Michael Pepper of Harlow who, precisely two years on from his last first-class appearance, proved exactly what the doctor ordered.   

Having cruised past his previous first-class best (22), he looked a shoo-in to reach a maiden hundred. Few would have argued against it being deserved.

But then came intervention as close to divine as it comes in these parts: Rushworth – who else – returning just before tea. Pepper’s dismissal acted as conduit from serenity to carnage, Essex collapsing from 179 for 5 to 182 all out in the space of 17 balls.  

It remains the case that no batter has reached three figures against this fine Durham attack this season. Led by Rushworth, who finished with 4 for 32 from 16 typically miserly overs, Ben Raine also collected four-for, while Matty Potts – making his first appearance of the season – bowled better than his one-wicket suggests.  

Championship Digest: Thursday, May 27, 2021

Despite the disappointed ‘what ifs?’ that will inevitably enter Pepper’s mind when head hits pillow this evening, he should be content with his day’s work. His ten teammates mustered just 90 between them, and he now looks set for a run in the side that’s been a while coming.  

A junior at Cambridge where he played alongside Max Holden, he is a product of the academy and has been on the staff since 2018.  Having enjoyed a successful winter playing for Western Province Cricket Club in South Africa – the home club of Surrey’s Dan Moriarty – Pepper looked set for a breakthrough year in 2019. But when Adam Wheater broke his thumb on the eve of the season, Pepper was laid up in hospital, his appendix having burst.  

His recovery was slow, and he would not be fit until May. It meant Essex had to dip into the loan market, Pepper forced to watch on as Middlesex’s Robbie White, featured in the entire Royal London One Day Cup group stage.  

Wickets falling in clusters was a theme of the day.  Essex had started brightly enough, before Rushworth rapped Sir Alistair Cook’s pads from around the wicket, for a carbon copy of his first innings dismissal at Chelmsford in April.  Nick Browne had raced to 23 - and exactly 6,000 first-class runs - before his 27-ball stay was ended by Potts, a pair of stumps sent cartwheeling.  

^{Chris Rushworth took 4 for 32 from 16 overs}

Out strode Pepper to make the 100 plus metre walk from the Don Robson Pavilion to the square, situated as far toward Lumley Castle as allowable. He started nervously, beaten on the outside by Potts immediately, before twice in two balls surviving huge lbw shouts from Rushworth.  His stomach would not have been settled by the loss of his skipper Tom Westley, who made a 21-ball duck. Essex had slipped to 40 for 3 and there was much work to do.  

But Pepper settled, and his quality began to shine through. There were some classy drives through the covers, albeit punctuated with unnecessary flashes at balls best left alone. More than enough evidence though of a man in form, his call-up coming off the back of 89, 85 and 77 in the second XI.   

A 64 run-four wicket partnership with Paul Walter steadied the ship before Raine removed Walter’s off-stump within three overs of the umpires deeming a ball change necessary. The hoop test had been failed.  

If Ryan ten Doeschate is not a lottery man, he may wish to consider buying tickets. In the space of four balls, Potts had an lbw shout turned down, Cameron Bancroft missed the slip catching practice memo and a nip-backer whistled past off-stump. When Scott Borthwick struck with just his second ball, it was a mercy killing. Pepper continued to flourish, a straight drive off Rushworth teasing the fielder at mid-off before later in the same over a back-foot punch raced to the boundary. Once he fell though, the rest crumbled.   

Congratulations to Chris Rushworth: Durham's leading wicket-taker, respected by all who know him

In response Durham found themselves in a hole of their own.  Jamie Porter, Sam Cook and Peter Siddle rotated the entire evening session and demonstrating exactly why they are champions. The trio picked up six wickets - five of them LBW - to leave the hosts 58 for 6.  This game will go a long way to determining the fate of these two sides. Much still to play for, but final day ticket holders may need to make other plans.

There was confusion at lunchtime over an egg mayonnaise sandwich for a member of the assembled press. The order was phoned through, but rather than Paul Edwards of the Durham catering staff, it was his namesake watching on at Old Trafford who took the call. In fairness, the latter was prepared  to fulfil the request.

However, with no promise it would have arrived in time the recipient to watch Ben Stokes being put through his bowling paces during the interval, the plan was aborted. You have to love county cricket.