McKinney & Lees put Durham on top
Ben McKinney's century came in only his second Championship appearance
- Published
Vitality County Championship, Division One, Seat Unique Riverside (day one)
Durham 393-5: Lees 145, McKinney 121, Turner 62*; James 3-56
Nottinghamshire: Yet to bat
Durham 3 pts, Notts 1pt
A magnificent maiden first-class century from Ben McKinney and a dogged hundred by Alex Lees put Durham in a dominant position on day one of their County Championship clash with Nottinghamshire.
McKinney, who is playing in just his second County Championship match, smashed an experienced Notts bowling attack around the park at the Riverside after Haseeb Hameed put the hosts into bat at the toss, while Lees anchored the Durham innings to reach three figures for the third time this season.
McKinney was very much the aggressor in the early stages of the day as the pair put on 189 for the first wicket, which is the hosts’ highest opening stand of the season.
The visitors then made a mini-fightback and picked up three wickets for 58 runs, but Lees combined with Ashton Turner for a partnership worth 122 to leave the hosts 393-5 at close.
McKinney, who was part of the England Lions side that beat Sri Lanka last week, was excellent throughout his innings and laid a fantastic foundation for Durham in this mid-table battle.
The 19-year-old dominated an experienced bowling attack with some great shots, particularly through the off-side, while Lees offered few opportunities as he went through the gears on the way to a 15th first-class century for Durham.
Notts skipper Hameed will be scratching his head after his decision to bowl first allowed the hosts to post a big total and as a result his side have a mountain to climb.
Durham managed to negotiate a tough opening spell from Olly Stone, who was released from the England Test squad to play in this game, and Brett Hutton, but McKinney and Lees looked in good touch.
Once he made it through the initial exchanges, McKinney looked to attack whenever he could and he hit two glorious boundaries in one Stone over.
The tall left-hander passed fifty for the second time in his first-class career with a cover drive for four, while Lees kept the scoreboard ticking at the other end to take the partnership past 100 just before lunch.
McKinney continued where he left off after lunch as he remained positive and he picked up several boundaries including a lovely pull shot off the bowling of Hutton.
Then came a flurry of milestones for the hosts with Lees reaching his fifty from 114 balls and former England Under-19s skipper McKinney brought up his maiden hundred from 117 balls with a beautiful cover drive.
He then hit Freddie McCann for the first six of the match over the mid-off boundary, but his excellent knock did not last much longer as he chipped the spinner straight to mid-wicket and he had to depart for 121.
Scott Borthwick looked in good touch but Lyndon James bowled him for 26 when he left one which clipped the top of off-stump and the Notts bowler struck again soon after, removing Ollie Robinson for 13.
Lees reached his own century after tea, the former England man’s milestone coming from 223 balls with just seven boundaries.
Turner, who is making his Championship bow for Durham, came to the crease and ran well between the wickets with Lees as they accumulated runs and passed 300.
He played a delightful pull shot for four and Lees got in on the act as he dabbed Stone to the third man boundary as the hosts piled on the runs.
The second new ball did not help Notts initially as Turner reached his fifty from 70 balls, but Hutton then bowled Lees for 145 to end a fine innings and give the visitors a sniff in the final stages of the day.
James picked up his third of the day as Graham Clark went for seven, but Turner remained unbeaten on 62 at stumps.
Report supplied by ECB Reporters' Network
