Lead High Performance Coach James Franklin has named an unchanged squad of 13 for Durham’s Vitality Blast T20 fixture at home to Northamptonshire Steelbacks.
Durham go in to tonight’s game against Northants in fourth place in the North Group having secured their fourth win of the group stages on Sunday when they defeated Birmingham Bears at Emirates Riverside and will be looking to continue their positive start to the T20 campaign, when they get underway at 6:30pm.
Ben Stokes is included in the Durham squad for the second time this season, having returned back to the playing 11 on Sunday where he scored a quick fire 29 from 18 balls, claimed figures of 1-20 and picked up two catches including a stunner to dismiss danger man Ed Pollock.
Scotland Internationals, Kyle Coetzer and Ally Evans remain in the squad of 13 for tonight’s game having been called in on temporary loan deals, following a number of the playing squad self isolating due to a coronavirus case.
Paul Coughlin remains on the sidelines having picked up an injury against Notts Outlaws last Tuesday, therefore will not be available for selection for tonight’s game and continues to work with the clubs medical team.
Northants have come close so far this campaign but haven’t managed a win and currently sit bottom of the North Group with just 1 point. Rob Keogh is their top run scorer in the Blast with 121 runs with Tom Taylor their leading wicket taking with 7 scalps.
Squad vs Northamptonshire Steelbacks (23 June)
Cameron Bancroft*, David Bedingham, Scott Borthwick, Brydon Carse, Kyle Coetzer, Graham Clark, Sean Dickson, Ned Eckersley, Ally Evans, Matthew Potts, Ben Raine, Ben Stokes, Liam Trevaskis
Words from Cameron Bancroft
“It was a pretty good performance from us [Sunday]. I thought we got 20 runs over par with the bat on what turned out to be a tough pitch. We executed quite well with the ball. Any win and any momentum you can build you take in this competition. It’s going well for us at the moment. You always want to try to contribute to the team. It was nice to be involved in a couple of partnerships to get us up to a decent score.”
The Opposition
Coach: David Ripley
Captain: Josh Cobb
Last Year’s Performance: Quarter-finalists
2020 Leading Runscorer: Paul Stirling (232 @ 25.77)
2020 Leading Wicket Taker: Ben Sanderson (12 @ 22.25)
Overseas players: Mohammad Nabi (Afghanistan), Wayne Parnell (South Africa)
Key man: Richard Levi – Without Paul Stirling at the top of the order, extra responsibility will fall on the broad, experienced shoulders of big-hitting Levi to lay strong foundations in the powerplay.
Flies under the radar: Graeme White – Along with his consistent spin bowling, White also contributes valuable runs – evidenced by a 12-ball 37 not out against Birmingham to seal the Steelbacks’ quarter-final place last year.
Best Player Under 24: Saif Zaib – Having nailed down a regular place in Northants’ T20 side last season, the all-rounder will be aiming to build on glimpses of promise with both bat and ball.
Blast expectations: Despite featuring in three finals between 2013 and 2016, Northamptonshire have struggled in the tournament since the last of those, their second Blast success. The Steelbacks peaked early in 2020, winning four of their first five group matches before losing four on the trot and eventually scraping into to the quarter-finals.
But, although Alex Wakely – who captained Northants to both of those Blast victories – has retired, there is still plenty of experience within the squad at Wantage Road. Wayne Parnell, a Blast winner with Worcestershire Rapids in 2018, brings further depth to a capable seam attack led by Ben Sanderson, while off-spinner Mohammad Nabi also looks an astute overseas signing. The question may be whether the Steelbacks’ batting line-up can deliver the goods regularly enough to secure a place in the knockout stages again.
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 the club’s match centre and YouTube channel.
Tickets
This match is sold out and tickets won’t be available on the gate.