Bad day with bat piles on Cup misery

DURHAM’S One-Day Cup campaign ended in further misery as they fell to a five-wicket defeat against fellow strugglers Leicestershire at the County Ground.

An impressive century from Cameron Delport ensured the hosts easily chased down Durham’s target of 240, with Leicestershire ending 243-5.

The South African left-hander hit 16 fours and two sixes in making 122 from 128 balls as the Foxes chased down a score that always looked to be well under par.

Durham opener Graham Clark had scored 13 when he came down the wicket and drove firmly at Ben Raine, who took a fine one-handed catch at the second attempt.

Gareth Harte and Michael Richardson took the score on to 74, but Harte was always struggling to time the ball, and on 35 was given leg before to Tom Wells’ straight delivery.

Latham went in the same over, facing just three balls before edging a Wells’ off-cutter to wicketkeeper Lewis Hill, and when Michael Richardson was dismissed by Richard Jones for 43, Durham’s prospects of setting a really testing target went with him.

Zak Chappell’s second five-over spell yielding the young Foxes’ fast bowler three wickets for just ten runs. Fine catches by Harry Swindells, at midwicket off Will Smith, and by Delport, at backward point off Mark Wood, sandwiched a fine delivery which uprooted Ryan Pringle’s leg stump.

A ninth-wicket stand of 100 between debutant Ryan Davies and Barry McCarthy ensured the visitors’ score was respectable.

Davies reached his 50 off 49 balls before McCarthy’s attempt to step to the offside and scoop the ball over wicketkeeper Hill saw him lose his middle stump to Jones.

An opening partnership of 93 between Delport and Horton, compiled in just 14 overs, meant Leicestershire were never under any real pressure in their chase, although the Foxes quickly lost another wicket when a misunderstanding with Delport ended with Raine being run-out at the non-striker’s end.

Delport and fellow South African Colin Ackermann added 109 for the third wicket before Clark bowled Delport with his first delivery.

Remarkably, Clark then had Ackermann caught behind four balls later, and when Harry Dearden was also bowled two overs later, Clark had three wickets for just four runs.

But Ateeq Javid and Tom Wells steered Leicestershire home without further alarm.