By Niall Hickman
Gloucestershire won by 71 runs (D/L method)
Durham’s defence of their Royal London One-Day Cup trophy is hanging by a thread following a third straight defeat in the competition, this time at the hands of Gloucestershire at Bristol by 71 runs.
Jon Lewis’ side will need to beat Leicestershire on Thursday and Derbyshire on Monday week to have any realistic chance of reaching the knock-out stages of the competition they won last September at Lord’s.
Durham have five points in the bag and another two wins would give them nine, exactly the total they amassed in last year’s group matches. It was enough then for Lewis’ team to qualify for the last eight and depending on other results, it could well be sufficient this time around.
After home defeats to Surrey and Yorkshire, Lewis would have wanted a response in the west country, but a magnificent 135 not out by Australian Michael Klinger, aided by a half century from Geraint Jones, meant another loss.
Gloucestershire managed 289-7 in their rain-affected innings, but the target was reduced due to the D/L method, with Durham requiring 286 from their allotted 41 overs. Although Durham began brightly, wickets fell at regular intervals and eventually they fell well short of the required amount, with Chris Rushworth last man out still 71 runs shy of their target.
The Gloucestershire innings started sedately and when Chris Dent was out early on for four to John Hastings, the visitors were well in control. Three rain breaks meant frustration all round, but after ten overs skipper Mark Stoneman’s side would have been well pleased with their work as Gloucestershire stood on only 40-2.
Former England wicket keeper Jones joined Klinger at the fall of the second wicket and although it was a slowish start to their partnership, both players began to find the middle of the bat with some regularity. There was a real acceleration from the 20th to the 30th overs, as Jones and Klinger delivered some hammering blows, with the former eventually out with the score on 162. New batsmen Benny Howell continued the assault, while Klinger kept going at a run-a-ball.
Howell went in the 20s going for one heave too many, but at the other end Klinger just kept marching on. Eventually the Aussie reached his three figures to register his seventh century in all competitions this season and his second in a row in the Royal London One-Day Cup.
While Scott Borthwick slowed the tempo at one end, Klinger continued to make hay at the other and although Gloucestershire lost a few late wickets, their total of 289, reduced to 286 due to the D/L method, looked an imposing one.
Klinger reached 135 not out, only five short of his highest score ever in List A matches and Durham were left to chase a huge total. The record books were not in their favour as the most Durham had ever successfully overcome against Gloucestershire in one-day cricket was 255, so the omens were not encouraging.
Skipper Stoneman got the reply off to a remarkable start with a six off his second ball, but he fell for 19, a prize scalp for the home side.
Scott Borthwick and Phil Mustard got the score rolling again, but when the former went for 22, the run rate required rapidly began to climb.
After 20 overs, Durham were still in with a reasonable shout as they were 92-3, whereas Gloucestershire had been 96-2 at the same stage. But wickets regularly tumbled with no Durham batsmen able to turn a decent start, into a formidable total, with Mustard and Graham Clark both falling for 28.
Gordon Muchall went for 35 and while Hastings continued to hit some lusty blows there was still vague hope for a miraculous turnaround. It was not to be as Hastings lost another partner when Ryan Pringle fell cheaply and by now the contest was effectively finished with Durham needing over 16 runs per over.
Hastings was eventually out for 46, ensuring this was the third game in a row a Durham player had failed to make a half century.
Usman Arshad and Chris Rushworth were both out cheaply, leaving Keaton Jennings 9 not out as the Durham innings folded for 214, 71 runs shy of their target, with David Payne the pick of the home side’s attack with 5-41.