Ben McKinney and Stanley McAlindon starred as Durham Academy got off to a winning start in their North East Premier League Banks Salver campaign against Sacriston.
Having lost the toss, the Academy were asked to field and soon found themselves in the game as Stanley McAlindon had Nathan Hall caught for nought first ball.
An impressive opening set of bowling from McAlindon (4/14) from five point five overs and Rory Hanley (1/13) from five overs, saw Sacriston reduced to 25/5, with the Academy well on top. While Henry Hopkins forced a run-out.
An 82-run partnership from Matthew Brown (44) and Nathan Bushnell (28) helped Sacriston recover to 107-6, while a 25 ball 19 from Luke Husband saw Sacriston reach 158 all out in 30.5 overs.
In reply, Ben McKinney led the way with an unbeaten 69 from 110 balls with three fours and two sixes backed by 41 from Rhys Ditta in 57 balls as the Academy earned a seven wicket victory in 36.3 overs.
Harry Crawshaw (18) and Bobby Green (12*) contributed with the bat in Durham’s win
Durham Cricket Academy begin their T20 campaign in the North Yorkshire South Durham league (NYSD) on Thursday night away to Billingham Synthonia, before taking on Lanchester next Sunday (26 July) in the North East Premier League Banks Salver competition.