Durham on Top as 23 Wickets Fall on Dramatic First Day Against Pears

Vitality County Championship Division One, Seat Unique Riverside (day one)

- Durham: 190 (Stokes 56; Smith 4-36, Allison 3-57) & 33-3 (Smith 2-17)

- Worcestershire: 112 (Kashif Ali 55; Potts 4-29, Raine 3-33)

- Durham: 3 pts, Worcestershire: 3 pts

Ben Stokes' return to form was a highlight on a remarkable first day at Chester-le-Street, as 23 wickets fell in the County Championship match between Durham and Worcestershire. Stokes top-scored with his first half-century of the season, making 56 in Durham's innings of 190.

New Zealand's Nathan Smith was impressive for Worcestershire, taking six wickets in the day. He claimed 4-36 in the first innings, while on-loan Essex man Ben Allison took 3-57, and former Yorkshire all-rounder Matthew Waite added 2-43, as Durham was bowled out in the 49th over.

Worcestershire initially appeared to be making steady progress in their reply, reaching 71-2. However, with only Kashif Ali providing resistance, the last man out for 55, the Pears lost their final eight wickets for 41 runs. Matthew Potts seized the opportunity to bolster his credentials for England's first Test of the summer by taking 4-29. Ben Raine (3-33) and veteran Australian Peter Siddle (2-20) also contributed, while Stokes claimed the key wicket of acting Worcestershire captain Jake Libby.

Durham began their second innings with a 78-run lead but quickly lost three wickets before the close of play. Alex Lees, home skipper Scott Borthwick, and Graham Clark all fell, with Smith and Tom Taylor among the wickets. This left the contest finely poised heading into day two, with Durham leading by 111 runs, but with a distinct possibility that the game could conclude by Monday night.