Gus Miller answers Northants SOS with maiden half-century as Durham fight back

The visitors looked to be heading for a big first innings lead when they had Durham on the ropes at 347 for nine in the morning session, but a vital last wicket stand worth 58 between Robinson- and Callum Parkinson helped Durham put 405 on the board, a first innings deficit of 45.

Northants lost two quick wickets at the hands of Potts, but a maiden firstlas-cs half-century for injury substitute Gus Miller set his side a platform to put a challenging target on the board.

It was quite the turnaround for Miller, who had been playing for Kislingbury Temperance in the Northants Cricket League on Saturday when he received the call to travel to the north east to replace skipper Luke Procter, who had damaged a finger while fielding.

Australian Nathan McSweeney then passed 50 for the fifth time this season after tea, but wicket-taking spells from Potts and Ben Raine boosted the hosts’ chances of victory.

The visitors then adopted a rearguard action and closed on 200 for six, leading by 245, teeing up a potentially thrilling final day.

Both sides were forced into changes to their teams ahead of play.

Durham’s Ben Stokes was withdrawn from the rest of the game at the request of the ECB, with Colin Ackermann drafted in as his replacement. Meanwhile, Procter was replaced by Miller.

With Durham trailing by 148 at the start of play, Raine and Robinson played positively early on, but Northants struck before the second new ball as Calvin Harrison bowled Raine, who made a mess of an attempted ramp shot.

Robinson then picked up his first half-century of the season, but Potts was dismissed by Harry Conway shortly after as he chipped a delivery straight to mid-wicket.

Durham reduced the deficit down to double figures, with Robinson playing a delightful cover drive off a Conway delivery.

Parkinson provided some resistance from number 11 and played a lovely shot on the legside as Durham took a chunk out of the deficit, while securing a fourth batting bonus point.

However, Northamptonshire wrapped up Durham’s first innings when Liam Guthrie removed Robinson, who was caught on the legside boundary.

With a first innings lead of 45, Northants’ opening pair of Miller and Ricardo Vasconcelos saw out a challenging period before lunch.

However, Durham struck twice upon resumption through Potts, who got Vasconcelos and Harrison caught in the slips.

In the face of probing bowling, stand-in Northants skipper McSweeney came in and looked to be positive, hitting boundaries from his first two balls.

The Australian international combined nicely with Miller and the latter passed 50 for the first time in his career with a lovely shot through the covers.

However, Miller, who was composed throughout his innings, had to go after he tamely chipped a Parkinson ball to cover.

McSweeney then brought up his half-century after tea, but he was lbw soon after at the hands of the impressive Potts.

Raine then backed up the efforts of his bowling partner, as he picked up his first of the day when Saif Zaib was caught behind.

The new pair of James Sales and George Bartlett adopted a rearguard action for Northants, but the former was bowled by Parkinson who produced an excellent delivery to dismantle the stumps.

Bartlett remained at the crease along with Justin Broad and the lower order pair negotiated a challenging period prior to close, with the visitors keeping four wickets intact.

Reaction

Northamptonshire's Gus Miller: “It was about 3 o'clock in the afternoon on Saturday during the innings break of my Northants league game. I got a call and said I was going to replace Proccy (Luke Procter), so I just jumped in the car and came up here.

"I thought I'd go straight into opening, don't see any reason to upset the middle order and everyone that's been doing well."

On scoring a maiden 50: "Obviously it was nice. I'm pretty gutted, I felt like I left a lot out there.

"At the time when I was batting with Nathan (McSweeney) it felt like it was quite easy to tick along, so that was quite disappointing, but I'll learn from it and hopefully I'll put that right in another game.

"I think it's going to be a great finale. If we can get somewhere near 350 that would be awesome."

Durham's Ollie Robinson: On bonus points and final wicket stand: "It was pretty crucial, Parky (Callum Parkinson) hanging in there at the end, doing what he's been doing all year with the bat, he's been really good for us."

"It's obviously been a tricky start. I'll hold my hands up, I've not been good enough. Hopefully it's a building block and I'll kick on from there.

"We rely a lot on our bowlers and put them through a lot. They always seem to put their hands up and deliver, we also lost Stokesy (Ben Stokes) so we were a seamer down.

"We'll start again tomorrow, it's going to be hard, they're not just going to roll over. If we get those four wickets, hopefully we can be in the same position as we were against Lancs when we chased down 300."