Durham hope to be up for the cup again
DURHAM return to Seat Unique Riverside today looking to make it back-to-back wins in this year’s Royal London Cup.
Scott Borthwick’s side goes into the Gloucestershire clash (11.00 start) on the back of a nine-run thriller against Somerset on Wednesday which secured a first win in this year’s 50-over competition.
Durham need to build on that victory after losing their first two cup games against Surrey and Middlesex.
They are in eighth spot in the Group A table with just two points with five games to go.
However, paceman Chris Rushworth believes the Riversiders will have taken a great deal of confidence from their victorious trip to Taunton despite the closeness of the result.
Reflecting on the exciting events in the West Country, the 36-yearold Wearsider said: “What a game of cricket against Somerset.
“Some people say 50-over games are boring but the crowd certainly got value for money.
“Credit where credit is due, it was one hell of a knock by Ben
Green, who seemed to flick a switch and one over really got him going.
“He just started hitting everything out of the park.
“I also feel credit should go to our younger players, though, some of whom had never been in that situation before.
“Sometimes it is not pretty to watch as a fielding side but we somehow found a way to get the job done.
“To come out on the winning side after a game like that was a great feeling.”
Coach Neil Killeen has named an unchanged squad of 14 for Durham’s penultimate home fixture in the RL50.
Openers Alex Lees and Michael Jones remain out due to international commitments while batsman David Bedingham is sidelined with injury and all-rounders Matthew Potts and Ben Raine are on Hundred duty.
Graham Clark and Borthwick will be looking to build on their excellent knocks of 86 and 88 espectively against Somerset.
The Shire have played a game more than Durham and sit in fourth spot in Group A with two wins and two defeats.
After today, Durham travel to face Nottinghamshire at Grantham on Sunday.
Sussex visit Chester-le-street next Wednesday before Durham round off their group games with trips to Warwickshire and Leicestershire - hoping by then to have qualified for the competition’s quarter-finals later this month.