Durham are back in action, taking on Lancashire Lightning at Emirates Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon at 3pm.
Ryan Campbell has named a squad of 14, boosted by the addition of David Bedingham as he returns to contention following South Africa’s Test tour of Zimbabwe.
Campbell’s side are looking to bounce back from a seven-wicket defeat to Notts Outlaws on Friday night as they look for an eighth group stage win.
Durham face a Lancashire Lightning side who sit 2nd in the North Group after defeat by 19 runs against arch-rivals Yorkshire on Friday night.
In Durham’s last meeting with Lancashire, the Red Rose came out on top in a last-ball thriller at Banks Homes Riverside.
Words from Ryan Campbell
(On defeat to Notts Outlaws) It was a very disappointing performance. With the way we’ve been playing, we were very confident to come here against a really good Notts team. But they outplayed us in all facets of the game, it’s as simple as that. We’re disappointed, obviously, but full credit goes to Notts.
We felt that if we got to 150, 160, we were more than competitive, and Durham cricket, in the time that I’ve been there, we pride ourselves on defending 150, 160. This North Group – we know it’s the group of death. There’s so many good teams. That’s the beauty of this competition.
We came to Trent Bridge sitting on top, but we leave right in the mixer. We’ve got a big game tomorrow against Lancashire. We’re going to have to get it back to our best very quickly. But good teams bounce back. We roll our sleeves up and that’s what we’re good at.
We’ll welcome back David Bedingham, which is a big bonus for us. Getting Bedders back will really help. But we’ve still got to win.
Squad v Lancashire Lightning (13 July)
Colin Ackermann, Kasey Aldridge, David Bedingham, Graham Clark, Sam Conners, George Drissell, Alex Lees*, Ben McKinney, Jimmy Neesham, Callum Parkinson, Matthew Potts, Will Rhodes, Ollie Robinson+, Nathan Sowter
Opposition Corner
Captain: Keaton Jennings
Overseas players: Chris Green (Australia, all group stage), Ashton Turner (Australia, all group stage)
Finals Day appearances: Nine (2004, 2005, 2007, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2020, 2022).
Titles: One (2015)
2024 finish: Quarter-finals
2024 leading runscorer: Keaton Jennings (278)
2024 leading wicket taker: Chris Green (14)
Key winter moves: Former Blast-winning captain Steven Croft called time on his 250-game T20 career last September to join the coaching staff full-time, but Lancashire’s overseas recruitment has replaced that experience in the form of Australian all-rounders Chris Green and Ashton Turner. Green impressed last season and has signed a new two-year Blast deal. Dynamic Scotland batter Michael Jones has joined from Durham.
The big question: Will a change in format help Lancashire build momentum after a difficult start in the Rothesay County Championship? Midway through this month, the Red Rose dropped to the foot of Division Two, and Keaton Jennings stepped down as club captain. However, freeing themselves up in the Blast may well aid their promotion bid during the second half of the summer. Jennings remains in charge in the Blast.
Wildcard watch: Sir James Anderson. The England fast-bowling legend will be 43-years-old by the time The Hundred starts in August, but he has made himself available for the Blast because he’s keen to have another crack at T20 cricket, which he hasn’t played since 2014. If he has success for the Lightning, surely teams will be clamouring for his signature.
Final thought: No county has won more T20 matches than Lancashire since the start of the Blast in 2003. The Lightning have won 150 of the 260 matches they have played, and they are particularly strong at home. But they will be hoping to change the key statistic, titles won – 1. There would be no better way than to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of their only triumph, victory in the 2015 final against Northamptonshire at Edgbaston, than adding to that number.
Match Centre
The Club’s match centre will be in operation for the fixture with live scorecards, statistics & video highlights as they happen. You can watch the game live via Durham’s match centre and the match will also be available on LancsTV. Durham Cricket will have full coverage on social media, with a full match report at the close.