Durham coach’s Frank assessment of side’s failings

‘We have not been good enough’ isT20 verdict

HEAD coach James Franklin was honest in his assessment of Durham’s Vitality T20 Blast campaign after they lost their final North Group match to Derbyshire Falcons yesterday.

The five-wicket defeat in Derby was the tenth setback in 14 starts for Ashton Turner’s men, who finished second-bottom of the table.

Wayne Madsen scored his first T20 century as the Falcons finished their Blast campaign with a record-breaking victory.

Madsen struck a brilliant unbeaten 100 off 47 balls with 11 fours and three sixes as the Falcons completed their highest T20 run chase by cruising to 194-5 to set them up for the quarter-finals.

Durham had earlier posted a challenging total of 193-5 through Ollie Robinson’s 43 from 27 balls and Michael Jones’s 42 off 22, leg-spinner Mattie McKiernan claiming 3-29.

Afterwards Franklin said: “Derbyshire have been riding high through most of the campaign and we have been mostly the opposite so in some cases this game told a tale of where both teams have been.

“There is a lot of hurt in that dressing room, both individually and collectively.

“We are not going to make any excuses about it, we have simply not been good enough.

“All we can do is reflect on it and look to improve ourselves throughout the course of the next nine to 12 months before this competition comes around again next year.”

Madsen was at his inventive best and supported by Shan Masood’s 31 off 28 balls and Hilton Cartwright’s 38 from 23, as the Falcons sealed a ninth group win with five balls to spare.

Durham had lost nine of their previous matches but started well after Jones smashed 19 from the first over by Ben Aitchison, who was making his first Blast appearance of the season following a back injury.

The seamer was driven for three consecutive fours before Jones launched him over the long on boundary and, with Scott Borthwick finding his range after an uncertain start, Durham were 67 without loss after the powerplay.

However, Matt McKiernan shifted the momentum by removing them both in consecutive overs as Borthwick failed to clear long on and Jones drove to long off. Aussie captain Turner pulled the leg-spinner for six but fell next ball trying to repeat the shot and it was left to Robinson to pick up the tempo.

After he survived a sharp chance on 20 at backward point, Robinson pulled and drove Alex Hughes and Luis Reece for three sixes as 31 came from the 14th and 15th overs.

Robinson skied Aitchison to long off but Brydon Carse scored 17 from nine balls and Jonathan Bushnell an unbeaten 25 off 20 to take Durham to a competitive total.

Madsen scooped Ben Raine over the wicketkeeper for six in the fifth over and pulled Nathan Sowter for another before a savage straight drive almost took out Raine on its way to the fence.

Madsen tore into Carse, pulling him for four and driving him for a third six to reach 50 off only 25 balls.

Madsen cruised to his hundred to complete a miserable afternoon for Durham.

Next up for Durham is Derbyshire at the Seat Unique Riverside, the four-day LV= County Championship clash starting on Sunday (11am).