Three defeats bring an end to County Cup bid

DURHAM Cricket Board Under-17s suffered three defeats in three days to dash their hopes of qualification in the ECB County Cup, writes SAM BLACKLOCK.

In their second game of the competition, Durham lost by five wickets against Cheshire.

Durham skipper Marcus Brown won the toss and elected to bat, hi s side reaching 48 before the first wicket fell as Khan was caught for 23.

Forty in fifty-eight balls from Cameron Fyfe led Durham to 97-5 supported by 25 from Nathan Hall and 18 from Jack McCarthy before being they were bowled out for 161 in 40.4 overs.

Harry Newton and George Dickinson both bagged three wickets for Cheshire.

Cheshire chased down Durham’s total in 34.2 overs as Edward Fluck led the way with 84 from 61 balls, backed by 24 from Ryan O’Brien.

Hall (2-42) struck for Durham, Rowley and Soll Bell capturing one victim apiece.

Durham were on the losing side against Lancashire in a rain-affected game which was reduced to 36 overs a side.

Put into bat, Lancashire tallied 220 for the loss of just three wickets as James Crawley hit an unbeaten 116 in 105 balls supported by 56 from George Lavelle.

Rory Atkinson, Rowley and Max Williamson all took one wicket for Durham.

Khan was caught first ball of the innings in Durham’s reply but 34 from McCarthy, Bell (30) , Fyfe (20) and Hall (33) did offer hope for their team.

However, a lower-order collapse saw no batsman reach double figures - Durham being bowled out for 153 in 33 overs, 67 runs short of victory.

Yorkshire also proved to be too much of a handful for Durham as they went down by five wickets at Weetwood Cricket Club.

Durham won the toss and elected to bat, posting 202-9 from 50 overs as Hall top-scored with 53 from 79 balls backed by 41 from Fyfe and 25 from Jonathan Pears.

An unbeaten 53 from Alex Drury and 49 from Hill saw Yorkshire home in 43.2 overs. Matthew Oswell and Hall both struck twice while Rowley claimed one wicket.