WHILE his new Durham team-mates fluffed their lines, the unknown Lee Goddard yesterday all but expunged Ian Botham from the county's record book.

The 24-year-old Dewsbury-born wicketkeeper hit a 32-ball half-century against Sri Lanka A at Riverside, one ball faster than the record shared by Botham, Martin Speight and Phil Mustard, who equalled it against Warwickshire last Friday.

Botham's only remaining mention in Durham's first-class records is for the third highest sixth-wicket stand, when he put on 152 with Anderson Cummins against Worcestershire at Stockton in 1993.

After Durham were dismissed for 220, 159 behind, the visitors declined to enforce the follow-on and Goddard took two good catches to remove the openers off the bowling of Luke Evans, who made better use of his height this time.

He should have had a third wicket, but Graham Onions failed to hang on at long leg with skipper Thilan Samaraweera on five.

Although he lost vice-captain Malinda Warnapura to an excellent gully catch by Will Smith, the Test batsman followed his first innings 79 with 40 as the Sri Lankans reached 162 for 6, leading by 321 with a day to go.

Following his four overs on Wednesday, Steve Harmison allowed himself the same again as he came on for the 15th over and looked in good order.

Goddard, a Loughborough University graduate, joined Durham in early season and his only other first team appearance was in the Twenty20 match at Leicester, which was washed out after three overs. He played in four championship matches for Derbyshire last season, making a top score of 91 against Surrey at Derby as two not outs in six innings helped him to an average of 52.25.

He went in yesterday with Durham on 129 for six after debutant Will Gidman had departed second ball, struck on the boot to become the fourth of five victims for the impressive left-arm seamer Chanaka Welegadra.

Goddard was immediately off the mark with a leg glance for four and soon swept left-arm spinner Rangana Herath for six.

After a stand of 34 with his predecessor as reserve wicketkeeper, Garry Park, who made 45 off 110 balls, it was obvious that Goddard was playing well enough for the rest of his partners to concentrate on giving him the strike.

It didn't happen, however, and when Goddard was left with last man Evans he took his tally of fours to nine by hitting three in an over off Herath, finishing with the reverse sweep which took him to 50.

Five balls later he was yorked for 52 by Welegadra, who splattered the stumps for the third time after dismissing Will Smith in the day's second over and bowling Gordon Muchall for 25 straight after lunch.

The left-armer, who looks well capable of succeeding Chaminda Vaas in the Test team, finished with five for 45 without the benefit of catches as he had Gidman and Gareth Breese lbw.

While Welegadra's victims all fell to good bowling, the more senior ones would be disappointed that they were found wanting as they are currently out of the championship side.

Two who are not, Mark Stoneman and Kyle Coetzer, also had cause to kick themselves. The opener played comfortably for his 35 off 39 balls, but fell into a trap with two men posted behind square on the short leg-side boundary as he guided a short ball straight to the finer of the two.

Coetzer looked to play Herath wide of mid-on and gave a return catch, after which Muchall had to graft for 11 overs for his first five runs. He then hit Herath for three fours either side of mid-on, but the big score he needs continues to elude him.