Storm Dave Damages Durham Cricket Ground as Scaffolding Blown Down

Chester-le-Street – Durham’s Riverside Ground bore the brunt of Storm Dave on Sunday as gale-force winds toppled scaffolding, displaced covers and forced the abandonment of day three in the County Championship Division Two clash with Kent.

Overnight gusts and driving rain sent a wheeled pitch cover cart-wheeling into the stands and brought down a scaffolding platform that had supported a sightscreen at the Lumley End. Fencing around the perimeter was also flattened, prompting officials to bar spectators from entering while safety checks were carried out.

A club statement issued at dawn confirmed play would not start on time; by mid-morning umpires ruled the pitch, left exposed after the covers were blown askew, too saturated for any action. Fans were readmitted shortly after 1pm but never saw a delivery bowled as the match officials abandoned the day.

Kent head coach Adam Hollioake surveyed the damage and told BBC Kent Sport: “It looks like a war scene. There’s been quite a substantial amount of water getting onto the wicket so that’s probably the one thing which is actually affecting the start more than anything. You can play cricket without sightscreens – club cricketers around the country do it every weekend – but at the moment there’s a big patch of water that’s blown off the covers onto the wicket which is going to make it hard for us to start.”

Durham, relegated last season, resume on 83-2 in their second innings, 221 ahead of Kent. Emilio Gay, who struck a first-innings century, added only 11 second time around.

The Riverside is due to host three England fixtures this summer: a women’s ODI against New Zealand on 10 May, a men’s T20 international versus India on 1 July and an ODI against Sri Lanka on 22 September. Ground-staff now face a race against time to repair infrastructure and re-lay affected turf areas.

Storm Dave, which has brought snow as well as heavy rain to northern England, Scotland and Wales, continues to sweep the UK although yellow weather warnings are expected to lift later today.

Elsewhere in the Championship, Essex claimed the season’s first victory, trouncing Hampshire by an innings and 137 runs inside three days at Chelmsford. Matt Critchley hammered 173 and then spun his side to victory with 5-9 as Hampshire subsided for 156 and 168. The win lifts Essex to the top of Division One ahead of Somerset’s visit on Friday, while Hampshire head to Yorkshire seeking a quick rebound.