CHELMSFORD — Essex produced a stirring fightback with the ball on the second day of their Vitality County Championship Division One clash with Durham, claiming five wickets in the final session to wrestle back momentum after a magnificent maiden first-class century from the visitors' young opener, Ben McKinney.
McKinney, a 20-year-old left-hander, batted with immense maturity and composure for a superb 126, anchoring the Durham innings and steering his side to a seemingly commanding position at 262 for 3. However, the hosts' attack, led by the experienced Simon Harmer, roared back in the evening sunshine at The Cloud County Ground to bowl Durham out for 301, securing a vital third bowling bonus point.
The dramatic collapse, which saw the last seven wickets fall for just 39 runs, has left the match intriguingly poised. Essex, having navigated a tricky six-over period before stumps without loss, will resume on day three on 11 for 0, trailing by 290 runs, with the pitch beginning to show signs of variable bounce.
McKinney's Maiden Masterclass
The day belonged, for the large part, to Ben McKinney. Resuming on an overnight score of 70 not out, the youngster displayed a technique and temperament that belied his years and limited experience. He was particularly strong through the off-side, driving and cutting with precision, and showed no signs of nerves as he approached his milestone.
He reached his hundred shortly after lunch, punching a delivery from Shane Snater through the covers for three runs to spark joyous celebrations from his teammates. His innings, which spanned 257 balls and included 16 boundaries, was a testament to his application on a pitch that was not always straightforward for batting.
Speaking after the day's play, a delighted McKinney reflected on his achievement: "It's an unbelievable feeling. I've worked so hard for this moment, and to get it in a Division One game against a quality attack like Essex's makes it extra special. I just tried to be patient, trust my game, and cash in when they bowled into my areas."
He shared a crucial 157-run partnership for the third wicket with the in-form David Bedingham, who made a fluent 67. The pair expertly blunted the threat of Harmer, playing him late and with soft hands, and looked set to bat Durham into a position of utter dominance.
The Harmer-led Essex Fightback
The momentum shift was almost tangible. The introduction of the second new ball, coupled with a change of ends for the prolific Harmer, proved to be the catalyst. The South African off-spinner, who finished with figures of 4 for 76, found his rhythm and began to extract sharp turn and bounce from the River End.
He made the initial breakthrough, trapping the dangerous Bedingham LBW with a delivery that skidded on, before orchestrating the collapse from one end. At the other end, the seamers provided excellent support, building pressure with tight lines. Jamie Porter removed Brydon Carse, before Snater and Sam Cook mopped up the tail.
The key moments of the collapse included:
- Harmer bowling Paul Coughlin through the gate for 12.
- Snater finding the edge of Matthew Potts' bat to be caught behind for a duck.
- Cook yorking last man Ben Raine to wrap up the innings.
Essex captain Tom Westley praised his team's character: "That was a proper Essex bowling performance. We never stopped believing. McKinney played brilliantly, but we knew if we stuck to our plans and remained patient, chances would come. To get them all out for 301 from that position is a huge effort."
A Pitch Offering Increasing Assistance
The Chelmsford surface, traditionally known for offering assistance to spinners as the game progresses, lived up to its reputation. While good for batting on the first day, the second day saw more pronounced turn and occasional low bounce, particularly from the footmarks. This shift played directly into the hands of Harmer and suggests that batting last on this wicket could be an extremely difficult proposition.
Durham's first innings total, which at one stage looked like being well in excess of 350, now appears merely competitive rather than match-defining. The importance of Essex's lower-order resistance, or Durham's ability to strike early with the new ball on day three, cannot be understated.
The Match Perfectly Poised
With three days still remaining, the game is fascinatingly balanced. Essex will aim to build a significant first-innings lead, banking on their deep batting lineup to get them past Durham's total. Dean Elgar and Nick Browne safely negotiated the brief period before stumps, providing a solid platform.
For Durham, the mission is clear: early wickets with the still-new ball. The pace of Potts and Carse, alongside the off-spin of Colin Ackermann, will need to replicate the discipline shown by Essex's bowlers to prevent the home side from taking a stranglehold on the game.
Durham's stand-in skipper, Scott Borthwick, acknowledged the missed opportunity but remained optimistic: "Obviously from 260 for 3, you want to get 400-plus. Ben played an incredible knock, but full credit to Essex, they bowled really well at the back end. We've got a decent score on the board, and we've got to come back hard tomorrow morning."
The third day's play, therefore, becomes crucial. A solid morning session for Essex could see them seize control of the match, while a cluster of wickets for Durham would expose the Essex middle order to a still-challenging pitch and put the visitors right back on top in this early-season Division One contest.