Durham's hopes go west following North's demise

It seemed a little contemptuous in view of the fact that their own modest line-up had reached 340 for six in the easing conditions and Durham had knocked off 451 at Taunton this season.

When Durham were 210 for five at tea, with Marcus North going strongly on 63, they were not without hope. But then they were torpedoed yet again by the one who got away and were all out for 279.

It was Durham's sixth defeat in ten championship matches and to add to their troubles Davies will be out for several weeks with his side strain.

While there were no players born in Derbyshire in the match, it was unfortunate that of the seven born in Durham the most influential was Graeme Welch.

There were members of his Hetton family in the crowd and chants of "There's only one ginger wizard" from some lager-fuelled Derbyshire fans excited by the prospect of their team's first championship win of the season.

The 32-year-old all-rounder top-scored in the first innings with 59 then added 23 not out and stifled Durham's pursuit of their victory target with his usual nagging accuracy.

After opening up with eight overs for 19 runs he removed Paul Collingwood and Kyle Coetzer in his second spell, leaving North with Andrew Pratt and the tail.

After making a double century batting at No 4 in the last championship match, it seemed odd for North to move down a place.

He looked much more comfortable than any other batsman and had hit seven fours and driven left-arm spinner Ant Botha for six at tea.

But when Welch returned for the second over after the break North cracked him through the off side off the back foot for another boundary then chipped a catch to mid-on.

Durham skipper Jon Lewis said: "At tea we felt if we could keep going for another hour without losing a wicket they would start to worry.

"But Marcus got one which stopped on him a bit. It was the sort of thing which could happen on this pitch. There was always something in it for the bowlers, which was accentuated when the ball was swinging.

"We have had some difficult pitches at home, but instead of the batsmen worrying about it we have to be able to turn it to our advantage because we know the conditions.

"Mark Davies has been outstanding and it's obviously a blow to lose him. We will have to bring in Liam Plunkett or Neil Killeen at Leicester next week, but we're unlikely to make other changes.

"I don't want to over-react to this defeat. I was very impressed with Kyle Coetzer on his debut at Cardiff and want to give him a run in the team.

"When people have been out of the side because of a dip in form or injury, it's not easy to walk back in. It's important for everyone to work hard to get in and equally hard to stay in."

North's 68 was his highest championship score at Riverside, but he trudged off with the look of a man who believed he had just spurned the chance of glory.

Pratt had a similar feeling when he was out for 25 in the run chase at Taunton. He was on 26 when his stand of 82 with North ended, and was quick to become the dominant partner as he moved on to 40 within the next five overs.

Andy Blignaut looked comfortable at the other end, but on 42 Pratt went to drive Botha through the off side and was bowled.

Derbyshire were already 401 ahead at the start of play and the first ball from Graham Onions flew down the leg side for four byes. The next was spot on and beat the groping Luke Sutton to splatter off and middle stumps.

Onions then tended to bowl too short and Welch twice cracked him through the off side off the back foot, a shot repeated by Jon Moss, who remained unbeaten on 147.

There was no sign of accelerating towards the declaration, which came after 43 runs had been added in 11 overs.

Derbyshire obviously felt there would still be movement available for their bowlers and they were proved right as both Durham openers were bowled when shouldering arms.

Gareth Breese thrust his pad well forward but still saw his off stump rattled by Paul Havell, then five overs later Jon Lewis stood motionless as a ball from Mo Sheikh swung in to hit off and middle.

Little wonder that the captain was annoyed about his abberation after edging the previous ball over the slips for four to reach 25.

Collingwood then put on 51 with Gordon Muchall. Both played themselves in carefully, but were beginning to flourish with well-timed shots off their legs when Collingwood pushed forward and edged Welch to Sutton. The wicketkeeper took a good low catch.

Muchall was playing well, but seemed to become a little anxious as he neared 50 and on 49 he cracked a long hop from Sheikh to point, where James Bryant held the catch by his bootlaces.

Coetzer seemed to have overcome an uncertain start when he drove Sheikh to the cover boundary, but in the next over a good ball from Welch nipped away to hit his off stump.

North's only moment of uncertainty came from the three runs which took him to his 69-ball 50 as they came courtesy of an inside edge as he went to drive Botha.

Blignaut also played several good strokes, but on 19 he sliced a catch to gully as the Melbourne-raised Havell took the last three wickets to finish with a career-best four for 75.

The margin was 165 runs when Onions was last out, caught at slip by that man Welch.

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