Former England Opener Shines as Durham Gain Upper Hand Against Kent
After heavy rain washed out the first two days of play, Alex Lees, the former England opener, produced a sparkling century to put Durham in control against Kent at the Seat Unique Riverside.
Lees scored a magnificent 144 off 180 balls to guide Durham to a formidable total of 360 in their first innings. He found solid support from Emilio Gay (52) and David Bedingham (66), who played aggressive cameos to further boost the home team’s total.
“Alex Lees was determined to make up for lost time, and his brilliant century has put Durham in a strong position in this match.”
However, Kent fought back in the latter part of the innings, with Matt Parkinson grabbing an impressive 6/109 to keep the visitors in the game. In their response, Kent lost early wickets, but a 72-run partnership between Harry Finch (34) and Jack Leaning steadied the ship, leaving them at 96/3 at stumps, still trailing by 264 runs.
The match marked the home debut of 16-year-old James Minto, who showcased his talent by smashing a six off Parkinson’s bowling. Despite the young all-rounder’s promising start, it was Lees who stole the show with his brilliant century, cementing Durham’s position of strength in the contest.
As the match progresses, Cricket enthusiasts will be eager to see if Kent can mount a fightback or if Durham’s strong batting performance will prove decisive in the outcome of this intriguing County Championship clash.
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