County Championship 2023

Watch: Matt Parkinson produces magic delivery, finds sharp turn through the gate to flatten off stump

by Wisden Staff July 10, 2023 - 4:53pm 2 minute read

Watch: Matt Parkinson bowled another impossible delivery to dismiss James Bracey in the County Championship today (July 10), pitching well outside off before thumping into the wicket.

Durham were staging a comeback against Gloucestershire on day one of the Division Two fixture, after Gloucestershire reached 170-2 before Tea. Parkinson dismissed Miles Hammond and then Grant Roelofsen, while Matthew Potts took care of Chris Dent, to leave the visitors at 256-5.

Bracey made his way to 26 before Parkinson produced a ripping delivery to continue the collapse. He bowled at the left-handed Bracey from over the wicket, pitching the ball well outside off stump and finding some grip in the surface to produce sharp turn. The ball came back in and through Bracey’s attempted drive to flatten his off stump.

Parkinson walked away with his arm aloft while Bracey was left staring at his flattened stump in disbelief at how the ball had spun that far back. That wicket meant Parkinson had taken 3-14 in eight overs, bringing Durham back into the contest.

Durham announced Parkinson would rejoin them on loan for the rest of the red ball season before he leaves Lancashire to join Kent for 2024. He had previously been with Durham for a short spell in the County Championship earlier in the summer. Durham are the current leaders in Division Two of the championship, having lost just one of their eight matches so far.