Alex Lees and Colin Ackermann led the way for a strong Durham Second XI before Jimmy Neesham and Ben Raine shone to secure back-to-back T20 wins against Nottinghamshire at Banks Homes Riverside.
Game 1: Durham Second XI 201/3 beat Nottinghamshire Second XI 175/9
After being put in to bat by the visitors in the opening clash, Graham Clark and Lees shared a stand of 36 before Ackermann arrived to steal the show with his captain.
The pair scored 148 between them in just 85 balls, Ackermann striking six maximums as well as five fours before being dismissed for a 41-ball 84 in the penultimate over.
Lees departed in the last over for 74 as Ollie Robinson and Will Rhodes pushed Durham to 201 for three in 20 overs.
Freddie McCann made a rapid 72 from only 31 deliveries and gave the visitors some hope in their chase as they raced to 86 for one from the powerplay.
After Paul Coughlin’s early breakthrough, George Drissell broke the second wicket stand and went on to claim standout figures of 3/14 as Nottinghamshire lost regular wickets after the powerplay.
Coughlin finished with a pair of wickets and Callum Parkinson, Nathan Sowter and Will Rhodes all claimed one wicket apiece as the hosts secured victory by 26 runs.
Game 2: Durham Second XI 127/5 beat Nottinghamshire Second XI 125ao
Nottinghamshire chose to bat in the second tie but lost a trio of wickets in the powerplay as two Kasey Aldridge scalps sandwiched James Minto’s dismissal of McCann.
Things got worse for the visitors in the seventh over as Raine struck twice to leave Nottinghamshire 41 for five and they were soon 46 for six as Raine caught off Parkinson. Drissell claimed a further pair of wickets to have the visitors eight down.
Joseph Pocklington made 59 before Raine bowled him for his third dismissal, giving Neesham the opportunity to remove James Hayes’ leg stump for his first wicket in a Durham shirt to bowl the Green and Golds out for 125.
Wilf La Fontaine-Jackson as he held the innings together with 32 as Durham stuttered to their target before Neesham’s 36* from 23 balls brought the Ds to within touching distance and allowed Haydon Mustard to hit consecutive boundaries to wrap up a second straight win.