Durham stunned by Yorkshire blitz

Yorkshire Vikings posted their highest ever NatWest T20 Blast score of 223 for six to set up victory by 49 runs over Durham Jets at Headingley and re-ignite their chances of making it through to the quarter-final stages of the competition.

In a brave but futile attempt to reach their target, Jets reached 174-8 in their 20 overs to make their push for a last-eight place that little bit more difficult.

Man-of-the-match Adam Lyth’s blistering 87 led to Yorkshire overtaking their previous best score of 213 for seven against Worcestershire at Headingley in 2010 but he received excellent support along the way.

The Vikings’ batsmen continued to rack up the runs after Lyth and David Willey had blazed the trail with an opening stand of 64 in just 4.4 overs.

Willey had a life on 21 when he hit a terrific skier off Chris Rushworth and although wicketkeeper Phil Mustard ran to get under the ball at square leg he could not hold on to it, Lyth then taking three fours later in the over.

Willey lofted Pringle for six over long off but in aiming another big drive he was caught by Richardson for 32 from 14 balls with three fours and two sixes.

Skipper Alex Lees turned Keaton Jennings into his stumps to make it 82 for two in the seventh over but Australian Travis Head then gave sensible support to Lyth in a third wicket stand of 83 in nine overs.

Both batsmen hit further sixes as the stand reached 50 of which Head’s share was 17 but they were parted when Head tried to follow up with a second consecutive six at Harrison’s expense and was caught at long on by Muchall for 34 from 24 deliveries with two fours and two sixes.

In the next over from Rushworth, Lyth was held on the boundary edge by Richardson for a career-best 87. He had received 54 balls and struck 11 fours and three sixes.

Yorkshire were 174 for four in the 17th over and Jack Leaning made sure the pressure was kept on Jets by cracking three sixes in an over from Arshad when he was also put down on the edge by Pringle, one of seven catches of varying degrees of difficulty to be spilled during the innings.

Durham started brightly but then began losing wickets and never looked like getting xclose to their target.

Arshad fought defiantly but it was never going to be enough for Durham.