Aldridge Takes 5-16 as Division Two Leaders Seize First-Day Edge

Kasey Aldridge took 5-16 as County Championship Division Two leaders Durham dismissed Gloucestershire for 137 before reaching 100-3 on the opening day at Chester-le-Street. BBC Sport reported that David Bedingham was unbeaten on 59 when bad light stopped play, leaving the hosts 37 runs behind with seven first-innings wickets remaining.

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Durham chose to bowl and Brydon Carse struck immediately, removing Joe Phillips’ middle stump. Matthew Potts then had Cameron Bancroft caught by Bedingham at first slip, before Carse bowled Miles Hammond via an inside edge to leave Gloucestershire 13-3. Carse finished with 2-51 and Potts returned 2-27.

James Bracey and Ollie Price led the visitors’ recovery with a stand of more than 50. Aldridge ended that resistance by having Price caught at second slip, then dismissed Tommy Boorman caught behind. Potts removed Daz Ahmed, but Bracey continued to his sixth Championship half-century of the season.

Aldridge also had Mitch Killeen caught behind, while Ben Stokes bowled Sai Kishore. Bracey’s innings ended on 60 when Aldridge trapped him lbw, and JT Langridge was caught at point to complete Aldridge’s five-wicket haul. The performance took Aldridge past 100 first-class wickets and produced his best bowling figures of the season.

Durham’s reply began unevenly. Langridge, making his Gloucestershire debut, had Alex Lees caught behind, and Phillips held a looping edge from Ben McKinney off Ahmed to reduce the hosts to 16-2. Bedingham and Will Rhodes rebuilt, with Bedingham providing the more aggressive scoring and passing 50 after tea. He took four boundaries from one Ahmed over.

Langridge later had Rhodes caught at first slip and ended the day with 2-28, but Bedingham remained in place when the light deteriorated. Durham collected three points from the day to Gloucestershire’s one. The hosts entered the match unbeaten and 30 points clear at the top of Division Two, while Gloucestershire were bottom, giving Durham an opportunity to strengthen their push for an immediate return to Division One.