COLLY’S MIXED FEELING AS TON UPSTAGED BY YOUNGSTER
DURHAM VETERAN PRODUCES STUNNING MAIDEN T20 CENTURY – BUT IT’S STILL NOT ENOUGH FOR VICTORY
Paul Collingwood admitted to having mixed emotions after hitting a stunning maiden T20 century – yet still ending up on the losing side.
Veteran Collingwood reached three figures in the short format for the first time in his illustrious career but was upstaged by a player nearly half his age in Joe Clarke as Worcestershire Rapids overpowered Durham Jets by eight wickets at New Road.
Collingwood, 41, completed his century in the final over of the Jets innings off 57 balls with four sixes and nine fours.
But England Lions batsman Clarke gave another demonstration of his considerable potential as the Rapids chased down their target with 11 balls to spare.
Collingwood said: “In terms of it being a flat wicket, a small ground and with the wind, it was very difficult for bowlers to defend.
“I’m delighted. Two games ago, I thought I was batting with a stump! You come out today and it just really clicked.
“To get the hundred, I didn’t think I would ever get one in T20 so to tick that box as well, I’m delighted.
“But in professional sport you want to win games and in the end that hundred is not good enough on the day.
“It was a fantastic innings from Joe Clarke who took the game away from us.”
Collingwood’s innings surpassed his previous best T20 score of 79 for England against the West Indies at the Oval a decade ago in June 2007.
Collingwood also became the first Durham player to score a century in the short format of the game as they amassed 201-2 in their 20 overs after being put into bat.
He made the home side pay dearly for dropping him on four with the normally reliable Brett D’Oliveira spilling the chance at point off former Durham all-rounder John Hastings.
Collingwood ended with 108 not out and his second and third wicket partnerships with Graham Clark – 106 in 10 overs – and skipper Paul Coughlin – an unbroken 92 in eight overs – were both records in matches against Worcestershire.
The Rapids needed a quickfire start and Clarke collected three fours and a six in an over from Coughlin costing 20 as the fifty came up in the fifth over.
The Rapids reached 65-0 at the end of the powerplay but Collingwood came into the attack and his first ball accounted for Hastings (24) who perished at deep mid wicket.
Clarke-completed his third half century in the last five T20 innings with his third six - off spinner Ryan Pringle.
Ben Cox gave him great support before Clarke went to his 100 with six over long on off James Weighell and then sealed victory in double quick time.
The 21-year-old reached his first T20 ton off only 45 balls with six sixes and 10 fours and finished unbeaten on 124 from 53 balls with eight sixes and 12 fours.