Pratt's uneasy Trent return

IT WAS at Trent Bridge last year that, with one throw, Gary Pratt shot to stardom, resulting in an open-top bus ride with the Ashes winners in London and a visit to 10 Downing Street.

On his first visit to the Nottingham ground since that glorious moment when he ran out Australia captain Ricky Ponting he yesterday discovered how easily ecstasy can turn to agony.

Although he was not to blame, the run-out of Gordon Muchall when he was in full cry on 88 could only have added to Pratt's anxiety as he battles to re-establish himself in the Durham side.

It was just as well he had skipper Dale Benkenstein to nurse him through as he spent two hours trying to work out why he couldn't locate the middle of the bat.

The day's second shower brought merciful relief at 3.20 and when play resumed ten minutes later Pratt edged the third ball between the wicketkeeper and first slip for his second four, the first having been edged wide of second slip just after he changed his bat after making nine in 26 overs.

It seemed the new bat might be a lucky one as just before he was out Pratt guided Andrew Harris through gully for his first authentic boundary. But just when it looked as though his troubles might be over he pushed forward and edged to the wicketkeeper.

After a season and a half in the Durham doldrums, Pratt began the season with a fluent half-century at Canterbury. But yesterday's 26 was his top score in five championship innings since then and he needs to find another Ponting-style boost to his confidence from somewhere.

The day's third shower arrived at 5.20, taking yesterday's time lost to 105 minutes following the loss of almost two sessions on Wednesday.

It was all very frustrating for Benkenstein, who was on 68 when he had to go back in at 6.10 for six overs and lasted for only two of them before falling lbw for 73.

Durham were 332 for six at the close, with two days left in which to unleash Steve Harmison at the Nottinghamshire batsmen.

Muchall looked back as though to blame Pratt when he was run out, but as he was going back for a very risky second run to short third man he had to shoulder the responsibility.

He was in the same glorious form which saw him score a double century at Canterbury and looked well capable of making up for lost time by piling up quick runs.

Having given Jon Lewis 26 overs start, they were both on 61 when the opener was surprised by a rare straight ball from Paul Franks, which had him lbw.

That ended a stand of 103 in 31 overs, of which 77 were added in 20 overs yesterday either side of a 45minute break for rain at 11.30.

With only 37.5 overs possible on the first day, Lewis and Muchall looked keen to make up for lost time as they took four early boundaries off Ryan Sidebottom.

Muchall steered two off successive balls behind point then worked the left-armer nicely through mid-wicket.

After the rain he drove Sidebottom's first ball through the covers for four then Lewis pushed a single to mid-wicket to reach 50 off 152 balls.

Lewis seemed conscious of a need to press on as he advanced to drive Graeme Swann for six over long-off, but his exit brought in Pratt, who was on two at lunch.

Muchall, whose 77-ball half-century included 11 fours, swiftly added the first 21 runs after the interval, which included a six over long-on off Swann.

Pratt took 40 minutes after lunch to add to his score with a single pushed to mid-wicket off Swann.

Whenever he did time the ball it went straight to a fielder and while his patience was admirable his search for runs became increasingly painful.

Gareth Breese, who is also short of runs, fared little better. He was off the mark with a nice four through the covers off Swann, but most of his other runs came streakily before he played outside the first ball of a new spell from Ealham and was lbw for 16.

That was when the third shower arrived and on the resumption Phil Mustard cracked Ealham's first ball to the cover boundary and was dropped off the second by wicketkeeper Chris Read.

Two overs later the captain shaped to work a full-length ball from Ealham to leg and was lbw, but Mustard hit three more fours to finish on 19.

Scorecard

Nottinghamshire v Durham at Trent Bridge (Nottinghamshire Won Toss)

Overnight: Durham 88-1.

Durham First Innings Close
J J Lewis lbw b Franks 61
(half forward, working towards mid-on 180b,
3-4s, 1-6)
G J Muchall run out 88
(risky second run to short third man 135b,
13-4s, 16)
G J Pratt c Read b Harris 26
(pushed forward, edged to keeper 95b, 3-4s)
D M Benkenstein lbw b Ealham 73
(working full-length ball to leg 118b, 10-4s)
G R Breese lbw b Ealham 16
(pushed forward, played outside ball 61b, 2-4s)
P Mustard not out 19
(17b, 4-4s)
O D Gibson not out 1
(8b)
Extras (b2 lb2 w1 nb10 pens 0) 15
Total 6 wkts (115 overs) 332
Fall: 1-62 2-165 3-196 4-260 5-307 6-318
To Bat: G Onions, M L Lewis, S J Harmison.
Bowling: Sidebottom 22-5-65-0. Harris 27-7-84-
1. Ealham 22-9-52-2. Franks 16-0-61-2. Swann
28-6-66-0.