Durham’s Yorkshire Bank 40 season has come crashing down after being defeated by Derbyshire by 107 runs tonight on a spinner-friendly pitch at the County Ground in Derby.
The pitch favoured the home side in the Durham innings with the Dynamos batting order struggling as the evening went on.
Sitting top of the table at the start of the week, the loss against Derbyshire was the second of the week for the Dynamos after going down to Essex and has all but ended their Finals Day aspirations in the 40-over format.
After winning the toss and sending the Falcons in, Durham got off to a good start with Mark Wood claiming the first wicket in 4th over when Slater edged behind to Phil Mustard.
Chesney Hughes found the boundary a couple of times in the next few overs and was looking dangerous until he found Stokes just inside the boundary to give Rushworth his wicket for 24.
It wasn’t long after when Wood claimed his second, dismissing Borrington for 4 after a nice catch to Borthwick left Derbyshire 36-3 in the 8th over.
Johnson and Derbyshire skipper Madsen then steadied for the Falcons however Johnson was given a lifeline when he edged to Mustard off the bowling of Stokes however the Dynamos all-rounder overstepped and the umpire was quick to call a no ball.
Johnson made the most of his opportunity and he and Madsen resurrected the Falcons innings, putting on a huge partnership of 103 runs until Madsen gave Collingwood his first wicket when the Falcons captain found Rushworth for an easy catch departing after making 37.
His partner in crime Johnson was only at the crease for a couple more deliveries as Collingwood claimed two wickets in an over to spin one through Johnson and bowl him for 58 leaving Derbyshire 140-5.
Just another 15 runs were added before the next wicket fell with Smith taking his first and Mustard taking another catch, this time a good one close to the stumps to dismiss Poynton for 13.
Smith then took his second when he trapped Hughes lbw in the 34th over for 12 leaving Derbyshire 175
Palladino and Wainwright then found some good touch with one over going for 20 before the Ryan Pringle bowled Palladino the following over for 22 with 6 balls remaining.
Derbyshire tail enders survived the final over and ended their innings on 217-8 off their 40 overs.
The run chase started shakily for the Dynamos when Phil Mustard was bowled by Derbyshire Captain Wayne Madsen in just the second over on the second ball he faced, departing without making a score.
Scott Borthwick was the next to go in the 6th over, picking out the sole fielder on the leg side to give Madsen his second leaving Durham in trouble at 14-2.
Stoneman and Collingwood then put together a 44 run partnership before the pair decided to take the power play when the rain started to pass through Derby knowing they were behind the par score.
In an attempt to amp the run rate, Stoneman’s shot fell short to depart for 25 giving Madsen his third wicket in the 15th over and then Collingwood (24) departed the next over after he chipped to Madsen giving Knight his first wicket and leaving Durham 62-4 in the 16th.
Ben Stokes was then he next to depart after a superb delivery by Knight bowled him for 9 and left Durham 73-5 in the 20th over. The Durham batsmen were struggling on a pitch which the Falcons spinners were thriving on.
Wainwright was the next to pick up a wicket, this time Muchall who was also bowled in the 23rd over.
The wickets continued to tumble and Will Smith was the next to go when he went in 16th over, hitting one straight up to give Knight his 3rd and Durham 101-7 .
Breese then went the first ball of the next over finding Hughes departing for 9 and Pringle two overs later with Wood the final wicket to fall just one ball later leaving Durham all out for 110 in the 29th over.
Captain Mark Stoneman said after the match he was extremely disappointed and that there were a lot of ‘lads hurting in the dressing room’ post-match knowing the two games this week were knockout matches.
Stoneman added that it was hard to plan to play on a pitch which changed as the match went on with Durham struggling to stay at the crease as the Derbyshire spinners tore through the Dynamos.
Durham will look to finish their YB40 season on a more positive note on Bank Holiday Monday August 26th when they take on Surrey at Emirates Durham ICG.