Sanderson on song as Northants gain upper hand against Stokes-inspired Durham

Matthew Potts mopped up the Northants tail as they were bowled out for 450 in the morning session, adding 62 to their overnight total.

Durham’s reply got off to a poor start though, as they lost three cheap wickets at the hands of Sanderson and Harry Conway to leave them on the ropes at 30 for three.

Stokes then came to the crease at number five and he brought some much-needed impetus to his side’s first innings along with Will Rhodes in a fourth wicket stand worth 153.

The pair both fell at the hands of Australian seamer Conway after tea to leave Durham in a spot of bother and Sanderson backed that up with a late double strike, as the hosts closed on 302 for seven, 148 runs behind.

Ricardo Vasconcelos, unbeaten on 181 overnight, reached his career best score.

However, the opener fell short of a double century as Potts got him caught behind for a magnificent 187.

Potts then got a second, dismantling Justin Broad’s stumps after he chopped on. He quickly followed that up with a third as he bowled nightwatcher Conway.

Liam Guthrie and Sanderson frustrated Durham during a final-wicket stand worth 33, but Callum Parkinson wrapped up the Northants innings, as Guthrie chipped a delivery straight to short mid-wicket.

Durham’s reply got underway just before lunch and they got off to a bad start, as Sanderson got Alex Lees lbw.

The hosts saw themselves through to lunch without further loss, but Sanderson struck again after the break, as he got Ben McKinney caught behind. Conway then joined in on the action as he got the prized wicket of David Bedingham who was caught behind.

That brought Stokes to the crease and he brought his repertoire of shots to the fore, with a lofted shot down the ground off the bowling of Sanderson greeted by applause at Chester-le-Street.

Stokes continued to look good with a couple of dismissive boundaries and the England all-rounder started to build a budding partnership with Rhodes.

Stokes was then dropped on 43, as he attempted to pull a Guthrie short ball, but he top edged it and it flew towards Conway at fine leg who put it down.

Stokes then passed 50 in a Durham shirt for the first time since 2024 from 51 balls and he kept the scoreboard ticking over as his partnership with Rhodes passed three figures.

Stokes then picked up back-to-back boundaries off the bowling of James Sales to continue his rescue mission.

Rhodes then notched up his first half-century of the season, with his pragmatic approach paying off.

Stokes continued his assault on the Northants attack as he played a delightful sweep as he closed in on three figures, but he fell for an excellent 95 after tea as he was bowled by Conway.

Rhodes then fell for a well-made 62 after Conway got him caught behind to leave Durham in trouble.

Graham Clark and Ollie Robinson steadied the ship for the hosts, with the former playing a lovely cover drive to relieve some pressure.

The pair then brought up their 50 partnership, but their combination didn’t last much longer as Sanderson got Clark lbw.

The 37-year-old seamer then bowled Kasey Aldridge late on to make sure it was Northants’ day, as Durham closed the day 148 runs from first innings parity with three wickets in hand.

Reaction

Northamptonshire batting coach Greg Smith: "I think the bowlers toiled very hard. It's a tough wicket to bowl on and the margin for error is quite small. I though after lunch we had a nice little spell. To get seven poles is a pleasing effort."

"I think we've just seen it's started to turn a little bit out of the footmarks and it's a little bit up and down bounce as well, so hopefully the longer the game goes on, hopefully that plays in our favour."

On Conway and Sanderson: "They are a phenomenal opening partnership. I'd go as far to say they're one of the best in the country. They don't let you off the hook, they're line and length every spell."

Durham's Will Rhodes: "Pottsy bowled beautifully. He bowled really well yesterday without much reward, it's nice to see him get his rewards after Friday. It's been a decent day."

"It's nice to see how Stokesy goes about his business. It's not often you're standing at the other end and you feel inferior to someone. Nobody in the crowd's come to watch me bat so it was nice to go about my work pretty quietly."

"We haven't had a huge score like Vasconcelos had for them. That's probably what's disappointed us as a batting unit, but we want to get as close to their score as we can. The pitch is going to start deteriorating, so for us, the less we're chasing on day four the better."