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Daley knock opens Durham floodgates

Durham (290-6) bt Sri Lanka A (208) by 82 runs

Fielding and building an innings were the two areas in which the Sri Lankans were found wanting as Durham's run of success continued yesterday.

The tourists were guilty of so many fumbles that the Riverside's verdant outfield might have been a cabbage patch, and after seeing Durham plunder 121 from their last 10 overs there was too much swash and not enough buckle as glorious, wristy strokes were followed by careless exits.

Only Chamara Silva showed composure in an innings of 71 off 82 balls and Sri Lanka were all out with 12.2 overs unused.

They put Durham in and Jimmy Daley, out of favour recently, capitalised on the chance to stake his claim to open during Michael Gough's absence on England Under-19 duty. In his final Durham appearance before leading England in three one-day internationals and three Tests against Australia, Gough had his off bail trimmed by Indika Gallage.

Daley made a cultured 81 before his exit in the 38th of the 50 overs opened the floodgates as Jon Lewis and Martin Speight put on 84 in nine overs.

There was a comedy of errors as Speight reached a 24-ball fifty via a dropped catch at deep square leg. Then Neil Killeen skied to midwicket and the ball dropped three yards from an immobile fielder with the Sri Lankan wicketkeeper, Prasanna Jayawardena, trying to claim the catch.

Despite Russel Arnold's chip to midwicket in the first over, Sri Lanka scorched to 53 after seven overs before left-hander Avishka Gunawardena sat back to cut Nicky Phillips's second ball and was bowled for 32.

The Sri Lankans kept surrendering their wickets and the last four went down in three overs, three of them to Neil Killeen.