Lees lashes out again as leaders are given target

ALEX Lees continued his strong form in the Bob Willis Trophy with a third half-century on an even opening day between Derbyshire and Durham.

- Charlie Bennett

The visitors finished on 219-6, with captain Ned Eckersley and Paul Coughlin unbeaten at the crease after putting on 64 for the seventh wicket.

Derbyshire top the North Group table by just two points from Yorkshire and will be frustrated by Eckersley and Coughlin’s late resilience as Durham recovered from 155-6.

Lees, the former Yorkshire opener, was the top-scorer for Durham, with his 84 coming from 196 balls and containing 11 fours.

That follows the 106 he scored against his former county in the first game of the summer and subsequent knocks of 66 and 64, ensuring he’s made a half-century or better in each match this summer.

It was a gritty inning from the left-hander, who saw three of his batting partners trudge back to the pavilion inside the first hour of play as Durham slumped to 32-3.

Sean Dickson, Michael Jones, and David Bedingham all fell for single figures, as Derbyshire’s opening bowlers, Sam Conners and Luis Reece, made good of the conditions.

Gareth Harte joined Lees at the crease and the pair put on 111 for the fourth wicket, before Harte was dismissed by spinner Matt Critchley for 44.

Stuart Poynter became the fourth batsman to fail to reach double figures when Critchley trapped him lbw, while Lees was bowled by Reece in the following over.