Classy Coad Puts white Rose in the driving seat

BEN Coad played chief tormentor as Yorkshire’s home-grown attack skittled Durham for 103 on opening day in the Bob Willis Trophy.

- Tom Harle

The White Rose made a mockery of Durham’s decision to bat first at Chester-le-Street as they hustled the hosts out inside two sessions and rattled to 84-4 in reply.

And Coad led the assault with an impressive 4-23 from 16.4 overs as Andrew Gale’s men took full control at Emirates Riverside.

Rain ruined the morning session with only 8.3 overs possible before former Yorkshire man Alex Lees was trapped in front by an inswinging Matthew Fisher delivery three overs after the restart.

Sean Dickson soon nicked off to Coad and Jordan Thompson accounted for both Cameron Steel and South African David Bedingham for single-figure scores.

Coad, who took 37 wickets in the 2019 County Championship, clean bowled Jack Burnham for seven and skipper Steven Patterson removed opposite number Ned Eckersley to leave Durham 74-6 at tea.

Gareth Harte was the only Durham batsman to offer any resistance, ending on a stoical unbeaten 33 as wickets fell around his two-hour stay at the crease.

Thompson pinned the returning Paul Coughlin four balls into the evening session, Ben Raine offered no shot to Fisher and the final two wickets fell in one Coad over.