Durham will be looking to make it back-to-back 50 over wins they host table toppers Middlesex tomorrow [1:30pm] in round six of the Metro Bank One Day Cup.
Ryan Campbell has named a 13-player squad which includes one change to the 13 which travelled to Southampton on Sunday as Alex Lees returns to the fold, with the Durham red ball captain rested for the last outing.
Lees replaces Graham Clark – who has been signed by Sunrisers Leeds for the remainder of the Hundred and will not be available for selection for at least the final three One Day Cup group fixtures.
Durham sit third in Group B with four wins from their opening five games while Middlesex are top of the group having also claimed four wins but have a superior net-run rate over Durham.
Middlesex are without five players to the Hundred with Leus du Plooy, Max Holden, Sebastian Morgan, Tom Helm and Caleb Falconer all on franchise duty.
Durham remain without Sam Conners (back), Archie Bailey (quad) and Daniel Hogg (wrist) as they continue to be monitored by the Durham Cricket Medical team.
Words from Emilio Gay
Ryan Campell spoke before the Yorkshire defeat that even though we have had a few wins under our belt, we haven’t put two and two together with our bowling and batting. We hadn’t played our perfect game, but the Hampshire win is as close as it’s going to get.
Luke Robinson and Shafiqullah Ghafari bowled really well. I thought after Albert and Lehmann’s partnership was ended they were phenomenal – that really changed the game.
We knew their blueprint is to save wickets for the backend. We held our nerve and kept going. Even if you aren’t in the best position at 25 overs, all you need are one or two wickets and we are back in it. Then we bowled well at the death.
Naturally when you are only chasing anything under 300, you don’t really have the pressure of having to score straight away. Clark was unbelievable, his ability to put bowlers under pressure from good balls was phenomenal. It took the pressure off me, I didn’t have to manufacture anything.
Robinson also took any pressure off by scoring quickly. I just had to make sure I was there at the end and anchor.
It wasn’t my best hundred, but it was an important one. If we had lost wickets we could have collapsed and quickly won the game. It was more mature from my perspective and learned from previous mistakes. After two low scores, I felt the pressure to put my hand up and help the team out. I saw it as just trying to occupy the crease and try and have a net.
I’ve learned from previous mistakes of chasing and leaving it to Ben Stokes or whoever is up there. That isn’t the way to go. It is about understanding when to put my foot down and not. I have to take the responsibility as a senior player who has played Test cricket in that dressing room. Someone like me should be trying to help the team on a consistent basis – so that was pleasing today.
Squad v Middlesex (7 August)
Colin Ackermann, Kasey Aldridge*, George Drissell, Emilio Gay, Shafiqullah Ghafari, Alex Lees, James Minto, Haydon Mustard, Duanne Olivier, Will Rhodes, Luke Robinson, Ollie Robinson+, Ben Stokes.
Opposition Corner
Captain: Ben Geddes
2025 Position: Quarter-finals
2025 Most Runs: Sam Robson (502)
2025 Most Wickets: Henry Brookes (17)
Why they can win the competition: Middlesex made huge strides in this competition last year winning six group matches to make the knockout stages, demonstrating an ability to win games from unfavourable positions. They’re a different beast in 50-over cricket compared to the Vitality T20 Blast.
Player to watch: Luke Hollman – the leg-spinning allrounder, Middlesex’s top performer in the Blast, recently expressed his disappointment at missing out on selection for The Hundred. Don’t be surprised if this combative cricketer takes the opportunity to showcase himself to the franchise market.
Young gun: Naavya Sharma – the 20-year-old seamer built on his Lions’ call-up with impressive performances at the back end of the VitalityT20 Blast. If he can transfer the powerplay and death overs skills he exhibited to the longer white-ball format, he’ll be a match-winner.
Final thought: Even with young stars Caleb Falconer and Sebastian Morgan on The Hundred duty there’s reason for optimism. Middlesex might be a batter light but if the top five fire, the bowling resources are there to spearhead a challenge.
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 Hampshire Cricket YouTube channel.