Di Venuto, Coetzer Rule on a Day of Firsts

ABU DHABI — It was a four-day game with a new look. New venue, white clothing, a pink ball and played under floodlights. The traditional County season-opener between the County champions and the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) which is originally held at Lord’s, was played at a new home — Abu Dhabi’s Shaikh Zayed International Cricket Stadium.

By James Jose

Published: Wed 31 Mar 2010, 11:55 PM

Last updated: Mon 6 Apr 2015, 2:43 AM

The experiments with the pink Kookaburra ball and the day-night fixture are aimed at having day-night Test cricket someday. But conclusions from just a day of the four-day fixture are too early to make as two-time County champions Durham called the shots after stumps on Day/Night One, coasting to an imposing 329 for the loss of three wickets in the 96 overs on Monday.

Former Australian opener — the explosive Michael Di Venuto, who played nine ODIs for Australia, smashed his way to a 180-ball 131 to lay the foundation, along with fellow opener Kyle Coetzer, who helped himself to an unbeaten 123. The 36-year-old Di Venuto was the senior partner, guiding the Scottish 25-year-old Coetzer along. Di Venuto started off with three boundaries in the first four overs. The pair carried on unhindered as MCC captain Alex Gidman threw everything he had.

Southpaw Di Venuto reached his half-century from 89 balls and got his hundred from 145 balls. But his entertaining knock, which was studded with 20 boundaries and a six, came to an end when he tried to go for a big one off James Middlebrook but was stumped by England discard James Foster. But the damage had been done as the opening pair had put on 181.

Meanwhile, Kyle Coetzer carried on and he put on 92 runs for the third wicket with Dale Benkenstein, who scored 41 from 77 balls with four boundaries.

Coetzer was unbeaten on 123 at stumps, along with Ian Blackwell, who was unbeaten on 13.

Scoreboard: Durham (1^st innings): M Di Venuto st Foster b Middlebrook 131, K Coetzer (batting) 123, W Smith c Newman b Middlebrook 13, D Benkenstein b Cosker 41, I Blackwell (batting) 13. Extras (b-4, lb-4) 8. Total (for 3 wickets, 96 overs) 329. Fall of wickets: 1-181, 2-203, 3-295. Bowling: J Lewis 12-3-34-0; T Murtagh 13-1-75-0; S Kirby 14-6-32-0; J Middlebrook 23-3-76-2; A Gidman 11-3-36-0; D Cosker 20-6-53-1; D Malan 3-0-15-0.