Durham emerge with a win and a defeat
DURHAM’S emerging players suffered mixed fortunes against the West Midlands Academy in two fixtures at Burnopfield CC.
In the opening match, a T20 game, Durham won the toss and elected to bowl.
They made a positive start, reducing the away side to 28-2.
Opener Usamah Khan steadied the ship with a run-a-ball 20 before he was stumped.
He was well supported by 33 from Saif Mir as the West Midlands side was dismissed for 115 in exactly 20 overs.
Alex Senior (2-11) and Alfie Taylor-Clarke (2-11) both struck for Durham.
In reply, the hosts could not handle the spin of Fahad Sabir.
He picked up four wickets for just one run from four overs - backed by 2-6 from Haydn Burke - as Durham slipped to 10-8.
A 49-run partnership between Senior (28) and Max Williamson (13) enabled Durham to finish on 59-9 from 20 overs - but they lost by 56 runs.
Durham put that defeat behind them to secure a five-wicket victory over the same opposition the following day.
Durham skipper Olilie Barrett won the toss and again elected to bowl - Luke Mussett striking early to dismiss Khan for four.
Wickets from Williamson (2-7), Matthew Scott (2-9), Barrett (2-16) and Mussett (2-34) put Durham in complete control as they bowled the West Midlands out for just 128 in 39 overs.
Sabir top-scored with 28 from 29 balls while Arnav Kulkarini added 23 from 55 balls.
In reply, an opening stand of 57 from Harry Crawshaw (43) and Jonathan Bushnell (29) put Durham on the road to victory.
However, once Bushnell departed Durham lost four wickets for 12 runs - Fadhil Mir causing the damage.
Senior then added 23 as Durham eased home with nine overs remaining. ■■DURHAM Under-19s’ final game of the season against Warwickshire at Moseley Cricket Club was halted by rain.
The visitors won the toss and elected to bat, Bushnell leading the way with a magnificent 189 from 274 balls with 24 fours and one six.
He was backed by 53 from Josh O’Brien, 47 from Ben Seabrook and 38 from Adam Ahmed as Durham amassed 388-7 before declaring with four overs left on day one.
They then reduced the hosts to 124-5 on day two as Robert Yates top-scored on 42 backed by 38 from James Rudge. Malik bagged 2-37 with Pierson, Burgess and Adamson all picking up one victim apiece.
Warwickshire were on 134-5 when the rain halted any further play.