DURHAM SUFFER LOSS IN WARM-UP CLASH
COUNTY BEATEN BY NORTH YORKSHIRE SOUTH DURHAM SELECT XI
Durham suffered a heavy defeat in their first Vitality Blast warm-up match at Park Drive last night.
The NYSD Select XI clinched an eight-wicket victory with eight balls to spare.
Durham batted first with skipper Tom Latham the first to go, caught behind for 16 by James Middleton off the bowling of Great Ayton’s Pitigala Jeewantha.
Ryan Pringle hit five off nine balls before he was second man out, caught by Jonny Weighell off Jeewantha again.
Will Smith and opener Graham Clark steadied the ship with a partnership of 46 in 5.3 overs, but both were out in quick succession.
Clark was caught by Usman Arshad off Appleby for a run-a-ball 19 with the score on 73 - and 11 runs later Smith went for 36 off 28 balls, caught by Cowling off Appleby again.
Liam Doneathy was then stumped by Middleton off the bowling of Tharindu Rathnayake to leave Durham on 88-5.
Wicket-keeper Stuart Poynter hit a run-a-ball 18, with Barry McCarthy making an unbeaten 12 off nine balls, as Durham finished on 132-8 from their 20 overs.
In reply, the NYSD XI got off to a great start before Middleton was caught behind by Poynter off the bowling of James Weighell for 18 from just 11 balls, including two fours and a six.
That left the score on 30-1, with Weighell’s brothers Andrew and Jonny together at the crease.
The Stokesley pair batted superbly with skipper Andrew the second man out, caught by Poynter off Chris Rushworth, having made 43 off 40 deliveries.
And that was the last success with the ball for Durham as Jonny finished unbeaten on 48 (off 45 balls), with Usman Arshad not out on 20 from 17 deliveries as the NYSD side triumphed on 134-2.
Durham are back in action tonight when they face an NEPL Select side at Chester-le-Street’s Ropery Lane (5.30pm start, admission free).
New Zealand international Latham will lead Durham Jets in this season’s Vitality Blast competition.
The left-hander led Durham in the Royal London One-Day Cup this season and has been appointed by Jon Lewis to captain the side in the T20 format.
Latham has also captained his country in the absence of Kane Williamson and proved a big boost to the 20-over side when returning from injury last season.
The 26-year-old added 139 runs from just five matches at the top of the order, including a top score of 62 against Worcestershire Rapids.
His first match in charge will be against Yorkshire Vikings at Emerald Headingley on Thursday.
“I’m excited to lead the side again,” Latham said.
“I feel like we’re improving as a unit all the time and the experience of captaining in the recent One-Day competition will only help.”