COLLY THRILLED WITH DURHAM MOMENTUM
EXPERIENCED STAR STEERS JETS HOME IN OUTGROUND SUCCESS AGAINST LEICESTERSHIRE
Paul Collingwood guided Durham to a five-wicket Royal London One-Day Cup Group A win against Leicestershire at South Northumberland’s ground in Gosforth yesterday.
And the experienced allrounder was thrilled with the Jets’ second triumph in four sectional matches, taking them up to three points having had two deducted.
Collingwood said: “It was a really solid performance and it feels good to be in credit after starting the season with our points deductions.
“We are gaining momentum and even in the defeat by Yorkshire we played some really good stuff. We are building partnerships at the top of the innings and Michael Richardson looks in great form.
“We have a small squad with a few injuries, but there are 11 of us fit a and raring to go again on Sunday (when Northants visit the Emirates Riverside, 11am).
“George Harding has come in and done a good job as a young spinner. Every game he plays is valuable in his development.”
After taking 3-42 in dismissing the visitors for 211 with one ball remaining, Collingwood went in at 1223 and struck an unbeaten 65 to lead Durham home.
Leicestershire were brought swiftly back to earth after their 103-run win against Warwickshire, slumping to 3-3 and 13-4 after losing an important toss.
Fresh from his 153, Mark Pettini edged Chris Rushworth’s second ball of the match behind and although the pitch appeared to have good carry, Cameron Delport and Aadil Ali both lobbed up easy catches from mistimed drives. They provided James Weighell with the first two of his four wickets, the third coming when Ned Eckersley also surrendered by hooking straight to long leg.
Mark Cosgrove was beginning to look dangerous when, on 21, his attempted pull off Paul Coughlin flew off the top edge over the wicketkeeper for six, but, on 37, he clipped Collingwood straight to deep square leg.
At 68-6, Zak Chappell remained unbeaten in compiling his maiden one-day half-century. He reached 50 with a fierce pull wide of long-on off a slower ball by Weighell and had eight other boundaries in his 59.
Lewis Hill was the second-highest scorer with 44 before he clipped Collingwood to mid-wicket and was brilliantly caught by Keaton Jennings, diving to his left.
Dieter Klein helped Chappell add 73 in 17 overs for the ninth wicket before he heaved across the line in the 49th over and was bowled by Weighell for 26.
In the home reply, leftarmer Klein surprised Jennings with a full toss which had the Durham captain lbw for 12. But Michael Richardson was soon in full flow as two cuts off Gavin Griffiths flew to the boundary.
Richardson reached 50 off 65 balls but then went back for a second run to third man and found himself at the same end as Stephen Cook. with the throw heading for the other end.
Cook was bowled for 67 when trying to run Tom Wells to third man and Cameron Steel then fell lbw to a yorker, with 33 still needed. But Collingwood hit two sixes and six fours in his 45-ball half-century and quickly finished the job.