Lees hits unbeaten 53 on rain-hit day at Derby

Durham openers Alex Lees (left) and Ben McKinney walking out to bat in their cricketing whites at Derby BBC Images

Alex Lees (left) lost opening partner Ben McKinney in the seventh over - but went on to hit an unbeaten half century at Derby

Rothesay County Championship, Division Two, The OurCoop County Ground, Derby (day one)

Durham 102: Lees 53*

Derbyshire: Yet to bat

Match scorecard

Durham captain Alex Lees showed his quality on a rain-hit first day against Derbyshire.

Lees batted with patience and concentration in tough conditions at Derby as his unbeaten 53 steered the Division Two leaders to 102-2 when bad light ended play.

Ben McKinney pulled Ben Aitchison over wide long on for six but went for an expansive drive two balls later and was caught behind.

Lees then shared a second wicket stand of 61 with Will Rhodes, who was removed for 23 by New Zealand seamer Brett Randell.

Only 16 balls were bowled in the first two sessions after thunderstorms had earlier halted play.

England off-spinner Shoaib Bashir was brought into the attack for a brief two-over spell which cost only three runs.

Report by ECB Reporters' Network, supported by Rothesay.

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