Durham Cricket white ball schedule for the 2021 campaign confirmed

Durham Cricket will kick off this summer’s Vitality Blast campaign at home in a blockbuster match with rivals Yorkshire Vikings on Friday, June 11, after the ECB confirmed the white ball schedule for 2021.

Durham’s opening fixture against Yorkshire is the first of three Friday night clashes, with Leicestershire Foxes and Derbyshire Falcons visiting Emirates Riverside to end the working week. The sevengame home schedule also includes a Father’s Day fixture against Birmingham Bears on Sunday, June 20.

The Royal London Cup will return this summer, following a hiatus in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, with Durham travelling to Beckenham for their opening round of matchestofaceKentonThursday,July 22.

The annual South Northumberland

fixture is back for 2021, with Durham hosting Gloucestershire at Gosforth for the opening home fixture, before back-to-back home games against Lancashire and Essex on Thursday, August 5, and Sunday, August 8.

Durham will also travel to Lincolnshire on Tuesday, July 20, in the newly formed National Counties fixture which takes place ahead of the Royal LondonCupgettingunderway.

With T20 fixtures confirmed for this summer, now is your chance to buy your T20 Blast season ticket which can be purchased from the Durham Cricket box office by calling 0191 387 1717 and with a guaranteed refund if Covid-19 stops play. Individual match tickets will be available to purchase from Monday, March 1, at 10am.

ECB Managing Director of CountyCricket,NeilSnowball, said: “The stage is set for an exciting and important summer of domestic cricket for the First-Class Counties and the women’s regional teams.

“I know how much county members and supporters eagerly anticipate the release of fixtures and I am pleased that we have been able to plan a complete schedule for men’s and women’s cricket.

“The Vitality Blast has establisheditselfasamuch-loved tournamentwhilethereturnof the Royal London Cup, alongside the remodelled County Championshipforthisseason, willbewarmlywelcomedaswe alllookforwardtothesummer.

“I am also delighted that we will shortly release the schedule for the women’s Regional 50 over and T20 competitions. These competitions will further strengthen the professional pathway for our female players.”