LV COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE, Riverside:
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY TWO: Hampshire 345, Durham 284-5
Hants 4pts, Durham 5pts
Match scorecard

Hampshire wicketkeeper Nic Pothas celebrates the wicket of dejected Durham batsman Kyle Coetzer

Ian Blackwell hit a spritely 83 to help Durham regain the initiative on day two of their County Championship clash with Hampshire at the Riverside.

The champions lost momentum after Michael Di Venuto (71) and Kyle Coetzer (47) put on 108 for the first wicket.

But Blackwell scored at just under a run a ball to get his side back on track as they closed on 284-5.

That is still 61 behind Hampshire, who added 47 in just over eight overs to eventually be bowled out for 345.

Danny Briggs was the main thorn in Durham's side, making a brisk 28 before becoming a fourth victim in the innings for Liam Plunkett.

He then threatened to derail Durham with his left-arm spin after removing both openers in quick succession after their century stand.

And when Dale Benkenstein was out after tea, bowled after getting a bottom edge on to his stumps, the hosts had gone from 108-0 to 146-3.

But Blackwell refused to bow to the pressure, hitting his fourth ball over midwicket for six and racing to 36 off 21 balls to dominate a half-century stand with Will Smith, who was dropped twice before being pinned leg before by Sean Ervine.

Blackwell throttled back after reaching 50 off 55 balls and was eventually out just before the close to a juggling Jimmy Adams catch at square leg off Kabir Ali, but Ben Stokes was still there on 28.

BBC Newcastle's Martin Emmerson reflects on day two at the Riverside:
"This match is finely balanced and could well go the full four days.

"Where Hampshire made a good start with the bat, so too did Durham, but just like the visitors yesterday, the hosts lost wickets at crucial moments.

"Kyle Coetzer and Michael Di Venuto fell within minutes of each other after putting on an opening stand of 108. Coetzer got an inside edge to 18-year-old spinner Danny Briggs when on 47 and played the ball onto his stumps, while the lbw dismissal of Di Venuto for 71 looked a tad on the fortunate side for the left-handed spinner.

"He could have been a real hero though had a caught and bowled chance stuck when Ian Blackwell was on 36. Instead Blackwell added another 47 runs - the same amount Hampshire added for their final two wickets in the morning.

"Blackwell was left stunned, though, when holing out with just two overs of the day to go as Jimmy Adams took a rocket-like catch at the second attempt to dismiss him for 83.

"There's still a lot of cricket left in this one and as things stand it's too close to call."

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