Weighell having a Blast with a surprise T20 run
DURHAM HAVE FOUR WINS FROM SIX GAMES – ALREADY BETTER THAN LAST SEASON
JAMES Weighell has admitted Durham have surprised even themselves by their upturn in form in the Vitality Blast this season ahead of their clash with Nottinghamshire today.
The Jets lost their opening six matches of the T20 competition last season, winning just three of their 14 games in the north group.
However, Durham have already surpassed their win total from 2017, securing three victories on the bounce after defeating Worcestershire by six wickets last time out at Riverside, leaving them with four wins from six matches.
Weighell said: “It has been a massive contrast to last season because we did not have a win after six games. It has been a nice surprise and with every win we believe we can push on further into the competition.
“The way we have been going we have had batsmen in form and wicketless powerplays for at least two or three games.
“That has built confidence and the way the competition is playing with so many matches in a short space of time you can gain that momentum to take you towards the quarter-finals. “It has been a good allround effort, although we had two poor games against Yorkshire, which did not go down well with the locals. “It is a nice feeling to have when the games are coming thick and fast to be confident in yourself. “The games against Yorkshire were poor ones for myself, which contributed to the team not being successful. “We have had four good games and I have felt good myself and I am looking forward to getting back into it come Saturday.” Weighell was not part of Durham’s County Championship side which lost by 41 runs to Gloucestershire during the week, having struggled with shin and ankle problems during the middle of the campaign.
The seamer hopes he can find his form and fitness in the Blast to return to Championship action before the end of the term.
He added: “I am always disappointed to miss out on any first-team cricket, although the Gloucestershire game was not something which was on my radar because I have not had the overs built up to be in contention.
“I have only played the shorter forms of cricket over the last two months so I have not had the overs in my legs or in my body to get through a four-day match. “In have to focus on the T20s to build up my overs and hopefully then have enough to get into the first-class team.” Durham will be looking to record their fourth win on the bounce in the Blast against holders Nottinghamshire. The Jets won the reverse fixture by 34 runs and Weighell is upbeat of their prospects of another victory on home soil. He added: “Playing them in the first game we know they have players who can take the game away from you. “We played well and were lucky enough to not let anyone get going against us. “Tom Latham’s innings was huge, batting right the way through and just missing out on his hundred. “We have had brilliant crowds for the first two games and it will be a massive boost if the crowds are anything like that on Saturday again.”
It has been a massive contrast to last season because we did not have a win after six games James Weighell