Stokes back for Jets as kids go free
On-form Durham Jets have Ben Stokes back as they look to make it three Vitality T20 Blast wins on the trot tonight (6.30pm).
The England all-rounder hit an unbeaten 90 against Yorkshire Vikings when Durham lost their North Group opener.
Since then, Jon Lewis’s side have won three out of four ties to boost their chances of progressing to the knockout stage.
Stokes is available to face Worcestershire Rapids at the Emirates Riverside because of a break in England fixtures, and he can also feature in the Specsavers County Championship match away to Gloucestershire, beginning on Sunday.
Paul Collingwood is rested following a sore Achilles.
Durham hope for another big crowd, after attracting 7,758 to the home defeat to Yorkshire last Friday. More than 1,000 youngsters have already snapped up free tickets for tonight’s match. Durham’s head of marketing, David Jackson, said: “We were delighted with the record gate that we achieved for our opening Vitality Blast fixture and we are confident we can continue to build on what was a positive start to the T20 campaign.
“We decided to make this fixture against the Rapids kids-go-free because it’s a great way for the children to celebrate the end of the school term and experience, what we believe, is one of the best family nights out in the North East.
“We can’t wait to see the youngsters getting involved with the family zone, collecting their freebies and enjoying some exhilarating cricket.”