Worcestershire Relegated from County Championship Despite Posting 533 Against Durham
CHESTER-LE-STREET - Worcestershire were relegated from the county Championship despite amassing a formidable 533 all out against Durham on day three at Emirates Riverside. Despite a magnificent batting display featuring two centuries, results elsewhere confirmed their drop to Division Two.
worcestershire resumed their innings strongly, with Ben Roderick continuing his impressive form and eventually reaching his first century of the season, a 180-ball knock. He found support from Gareth Brookes, who also went on to score a century – his second of the campaign, reaching the milestone off 130 balls.
Earlier, Conners had almost broken through as Gibbon edged one on 28, but Emilio Gay failed to hold the catch at second slip. Ghafari claimed his first Durham wicket, dismissing Gibbon lbw for 33, though it proved insufficient for a second bowling point for the hosts. Roderick and Brookes guided their side to 400, with Raine nearly dismissing Brookes, only for Ollie Robinson to miss a diving catch.
Roderick continued to frustrate Durham, playing a fine shot off Will Rhodes to reach four just before tea. After the break, he struck Matthew Potts through the covers for four, followed by a carbon copy from Brookes in the same over. Rhodes had a chance to dismiss Roderick with a caught and bowled prospect, but couldn’t hold on.
Milestones followed as Brookes passed fifty from 86 balls and Roderick reached 150 from 276 balls. Brookes was then dropped twice - on 57 off Ghafari and earlier – capitalizing on his reprieves with the first six of the match, hit down the ground.
Roderick eventually fell for 151, lbw to Conners, who then dismissed Matthew Waite for a three-ball duck. Brookes continued to score, sweeping Ghafari for four and taking his side past 500. Tom Taylor also enjoyed a reprieve when Gay dropped a chance when he was on 15.
Brookes was bowled by Potts for 100 after attempting a big shot, while Taylor reached fifty from 54 balls. The innings concluded with Ben Allison and Taylor unbeaten on 10 and 66 respectively, taking Worcestershire to 533.
Despite the ample total, Worcestershire’s relegation was confirmed by results from other County Championship matches.
