MATCH REPORT: Balderson blitz leads Lancs to victory over Durham
George Balderson led a magnificent fightback as Lancashire completed a memorable 60-run victory over Durham at Blackpool to record their first victory of the season in the Vitality County Championship.
The Red Rose were staring down the barrel after superb centuries by David Bedingham and Ollie Robinson looked to be steering the visitors to a famous record-breaking run chase at Stanley Park.
But after Nathan Lyon had removed Bedingham for 103 soon after lunch and Luke Wells accounted for Ben Stokes cheaply, the Durham innings fell away from 350 for five to 414 all out during an astonishing collapse brought about by a fine four-wicket burst from George Balderson with the new ball.
Balderson took three wickets in seven balls to have Graham Clark caught behind, Paul Coughlin caught at second slip, and took a superb diving catch off his own bowling to dismiss Ben Raine.
Matty Potts and Robinson then got into a dreadful mix-up with Potts run out by George Lavelle leaving Durham dizzy on 388 for nine.
Robinson blasted away, hitting four sixes and 18 fours during his fine innings, but was left stranded on 171 when Balderson switched ends to remove Callum Parkinson from an edge to first slip, appropriately caught by skipper Keaton Jennings.
Balderson finished with four for 52, with his spell with the second new ball being a superb four for 16.
The win sees Lancashire gain 22 points and Durham take 3 points from the game.
Resuming the day on 134 for three and needing a further 341 runs Bedingham and Robinson started positively and kept the scoreboard ticking along as Lancashire set attacking fields in the hunt for an early breakthrough.
It was also a fine batting performance under pressure that prospered as the morning wore on with both batters reaching their half centuries in quick succession and the hundred partnership arriving from 25 overs.
The pair rode their luck at times, edging over or wide of the slips and one chance brushing the fingertips of a diving Luke Wells when Robinson was on 54.
Lancashire were also hampered by the loss of Saqib Mahmood to injury after the pace bowler pulled up midway through his third over of the day, before completing it but then leaving the pitch for the rest of the match.
That brought Lyon into the attack and although he caused the batsmen no end of problems, the Aussie spinner had no luck despite beating the bat on a regular basis.
Bedingham and Robinson batted through the morning, the latter going to his eighth century just before the break with the 200 partnership coming from 46 overs early in the afternoon.
It was Lyon who finally made a deserved breakthrough when Bedingham, having just reached his century, played back and edged behind for 103 with Durham 313 for four needing 163 runs.
Two centuries in the match by both Bedingham and Keaton Jennings is the first time a game involving Lancashire has contained double century makers on each side.
Bedingham’s dismissal brought Ben Stokes to the crease and we had another Stokes v Lyon duel to savour.
After 21 balls without scoring Stokes had had enough, reverse sweeping Lyon for four and slog sweeping Luke Wells for a couple of boundaries.
But it was reverse sweep that proved Stokes’ undoing not, as you might expect, against Lyon but against Wells as the England Test skipper completely missed with his shot to be bowled for 18.
At that point Durham were 350 for five and looking favourites, just 125 runs away from their target.
Balderson and co made sure they didn’t make it.
“Over the four days it’s been a brilliant game,” said Head Coach Dale Benkenstein.
“Not only the last day, but the position we’ve been in this season – having lost three games in a row – and we were in a really strong position here, only to see two batters make the pitch look very easy.
“We’ve got a lot of young players in the team and for them be part of this win after what we’ve been through is a huge step in their careers.
“We went through a whole lot of chat in the changing room and to see the players really believe we were one wicket away, that belief obviously showed at the end.”
Benkenstein was delighted with the contribution of the younger players in the side.
“Giving chances to a talented cricketer like Tom (Aspinwall), he doesn’t complicate his game too much, but he changed this game, (on the second day)” he said.
“He’s got something different about him. He bustles in, he’s a real character and we’ll see a lot more of him with the bat.
“It’s great that he took his opportunity and he’ll be a great addition to the side if he keeps performing like that.
“George Balderson makes things happen. He’s a great cricketer.
“Not just his skills but his character. He’s very quiet but incredibly determined and has a really intelligent cricket brain.
“There were no guarantees when he came on, but he just made it happen with that second new ball.
“We’re just relived to have got a win.”
Ken Grime
Photos: George Franks, Luke Adams, Dan Adams
