Despite Callum Parkinson’s first-ever five-wicket haul for Durham and Essex batter Nick Browne’s first County Championship century in over a year, the weather-affected game at the Riverside ended in a draw.
After the rain stopped play on the third day, this result had always seemed likely, but Essex tried their hardest to force a victory on the final afternoon, scoring 488 and taking a 130-run lead in the first innings.
Play was stopped at 4.40 p.m. due to bad light, and Durham was led by Alex Lees (48 not out) and David Bedingham (33 not out) to a 131-2 victory despite their best efforts. Shortly after, the teams shook hands.
The morning session’s most noteworthy moment occurred in the fifth over when Browne, facing Kent in April 2023, back-cut Ben Raine to the boundary, marking his first century in 22 Championship innings.
In the afternoon session, Essex lost four wickets, including two run-outs in three balls, while trying to make quick runs after reaching lunch on 450-6.
After failing to beat Lees’ fine leg throw on his third attempt at a run, Browne was out for 184. Simon Harmer then removed Harry Duke, but Scott Borthwick’s return from midwicket was too quick.
After that, Parkinson removed Jamie Porter and Harmer from the game in the same over, finishing with 5-131 from 31 overs.
In the third over of Durham’s second innings, Borthwick played across a ball from Porter and was trapped leg before wicket for four, giving the visitors a greater chance to wreck havoc.
But before Colin Ackermann (32) was caught at slip by Jordan Cox off Matt Critchley, Lees and Ackermann put on 75 for the second wicket.
