FRUSTRATION FOR DURHAM SKIPPER
Steven Mullaney smashed a career-best 124 to keep Nottinghamshire’s hopes of reaching the knockout phase of the Royal London One-Day Cup alive following a 31-run win over Durham at the Emirates Riverside yesterday
The Outlaws’ skipper was the difference between the two sides as he guided his team out of trouble at 73-5 to a competitive total of 255, with a balance of quick running and power hitting towards the end of the innings.
Durham lost their composure in their chase, losing wickets at vital times to succumb to the defeat.
The result gives Notts a real chance of securing a quarter-final berth at the least ahead of their final match against Derbyshire.
Durham one-day captain Tom Latham admitted: “It’s disappointing to lose the game. The score doesn’t quite reflect how close we were. Chasing down the score, we got ourselves into position at 40 overs, when the required rate was only at seven, with a few wickets in hand.
“We lacked that someone to go on and get a big score.
“Obviously it’s very frustrating, but we move on to Leicester (on Thursday).
“We were happy to get them 73-5, but they built the partnership and we couldn’t quite break it. We got into positions to keep on taking wickets, but we struggled towards the end of the innings.”
The visitors were inserted by Latham, and Mark Wood got Durham off to a perfect start, clean bowling Riki Wessels off the very first ball.
Alex Hales struggled to get going and was caught looking to break the shackles by Michael Richardson. The introduction of Gareth Harte paid dividends as Moores nicked off behind for 23, while Matt Dixon had Samit Patel caught at fine leg.
Despite Durham’s inroads, the presence of Ross Taylor was a threat. He was looking in good touch at the crease, but then played on to a Harte delivery to put the hosts in the ascendancy.
Mullaney and Chris Nash were able to stabilise the innings, knocking the ball around the ground. The duo were steady in their approach, putting on 50 in 92 deliveries.
Ryan Pringle ended the partnership with a turning delivery to dismiss Nash lbw for 40.
However, Mullaney remained composed at the crease to notch his 50 before upping the ante towards the end of the innings. Dixon felt the brunt of his onslaught as he powered his way to a ton.
He reached the milestone off 111 deliveries, including seven fours and three sixes.
Mullaney pushed on in the final over to reach his highest List A score, hitting Dixon for three-straight sixes before he was caught by Richardson for 124. Dixon ended with figures of 2-88 – the most expensive List A statistics recorded by a Durham bowler.
Jets’ reply began poorly as Cameron Steel edged behind off Jake Ball. Graham Clark and Richardson built a steady partnership, putting on 50 off 80 deliveries. Samit Patel dropped Clark off his own bowling, but returned in the following over to dismiss the opener for 36.
Latham found found the rope four times and also scored a six, but was then out tamely to Nash for 28.
Will Smith joined Richardson in the middle and the duo picked up from where they left off on Friday, scoring at a brisk pace.
However, Durham lost quick wickets to stifle their momentum as Richardson, Poynter, Smith and Harte were dismissed as the pressure started to build. The tail were left with a huge task as the required rate soared, and Notts were able to hold their composure to secure the win.