England and Durham seamer Matthew Potts appears to have Haider Ali’s number after dismissing the Derbyshire opener twice in the space of three hours on Friday.
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The hosts batted first at Chester-le-Street and made a Bazballing 452-9 in 99.2 overs thanks to run-a-ball hundreds from Ollie Robinson and Brydon Carse.
Billy Godleman was then dismissed lbw by Ben Raine in the first over of Derbyshire’s reply. It meant Durham were well on top as Haider, the Pakistan batter who averages 51 in first class cricket, faced up against Potts.
After leaving the first ball well alone, the 22-year-old was relieved of his off stump by the second. It was a wonderful delivery from Potts that angled in towards leg stump before jagging away to leave the batter stood on the spot looking bemused.
The England seamer produced another beauty with his fifth ball to dismiss Wayne Madsen, and when Raine struck again in the next over Derbyshire were 6-4.
Luis Recce’s 56 took the visitors up to 165, but they could not avoid the follow-on and Haider was given another chance just three hours later.
After Goldeman completed his pair by again falling lbw to Raine, Haider was prised out by the same bowler at the same point of the innings. He was trapped in front by Potts at the end of the second over, as Derbyshire’s top order failed for the second time in the game to leave them 7-2.
Mickey Arthur’s side have since advanced to 189-5 with Reece and Matthew Lamb at the crease, but they face a battle to avert a big defeat as they still trail Durham by 98 runs.
After going wicketless in his first game of the season, Potts’ tally of 10 wickets in his last two Championship games will not go unnoticed by England as Ben Stokes looks to have eight seamers fit for this summer’s Ashes.
The 24-year-old seamer was recently named as one of Wisden’s five cricketers of the year after taking 20 wickets in his first five Tests last summer and picking up 58 red-ball scalps for Durham.
Watch: Haider Ali is bowled by a beauty from Matthew Potts
A beauty from Matthew Potts to dismiss Haider Ali! 😮💨#CountyCricket2023pic.twitter.com/M0e5rWw051
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) April 28, 2023
He then falls to the same bowler LBW just three hours later
Potts gets Haider Ali for the second time this afternoon 👊#ForTheNorth pic.twitter.com/Fpvdh8CUmu
— Durham Cricket (@DurhamCricket) April 28, 2023