Aldridge five-for leaves Division Two leaders Durham on top

Kasey Aldridge took 5-16 as Durham bowled Gloucestershire out for 137 before reaching 100-3 on the opening day of their County Championship Division Two match at Chester-le-Street. BBC Sport, carrying a report from the ECB Reporters’ Network, said the leaders closed 37 runs behind with seven first-innings wickets remaining.

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Durham chose to bowl and quickly reduced the visitors to 13-3. Brydon Carse removed Joe Phillips by hitting his middle stump, Matthew Potts had Cameron Bancroft caught by David Bedingham at first slip, and Carse added the wicket of Miles Hammond, who played the ball onto his stumps.

James Bracey and Ollie Price steadied Gloucestershire with a partnership that passed 50, but Aldridge broke the stand by having Price caught at second slip. He then removed Tommy Boorman caught behind, while Potts dismissed Daz Ahmed to keep Durham in control. Bracey continued to resist and reached a half-century for the sixth time this season.

Aldridge went on to dismiss Mitch Killeen, then completed his five-wicket haul with the wickets of Bracey and JT Langridge. Bracey top-scored with 60. Aldridge’s performance also took him past 100 first-class wickets, while Potts finished with 2-27 and Carse returned 2-51. Ben Stokes claimed the other wicket by bowling Sai Kishore.

Durham’s reply began poorly when Langridge had Alex Lees caught behind and Ahmed removed Ben McKinney, leaving the home side 16-2. Bedingham and Will Rhodes rebuilt the innings before Bedingham accelerated, taking four boundaries from one Ahmed over as he moved beyond 50 after tea. Langridge later had Rhodes caught at first slip.

Bedingham was unbeaten on 59 when bad light ended play early, with Durham on 100-3 and 26 overs lost from the scheduled day. Langridge finished with 2-28 on his Gloucestershire debut. Unbeaten Durham entered the match with a 30-point lead at the top of Division Two, while Gloucestershire were bottom, giving the hosts a strong platform but leaving the first-innings contest unresolved.