Matty Potts claimed career-best T20 figures to inspire Durham to a comfortable six-wicket win over Leicestershire Foxes in their Vitality Blast contest at Emirates Riverside.
Potts was deadly accurate with the ball in his four-over spell of 3-19, leading a disciplined effort in the field from the home side. Liam Trevaskis was equally impressive with figures of 2-17, preventing the Foxes from setting a competitive total. Arron Lilley top scored for the visitors with 45 in their innings of 130-9.
Durham made a rapid start courtesy of Graham Clark, notching 35 from only 14 balls. Ben Raine continued his impressive form with the bat, playing the anchor role with an unbeaten half-century, ending the game in style with a six. Durham secured their second win on the bounce, giving them a glimmer of hope of advancing from the North Group with three games remaining in the term.
The Foxes won the toss and elected to bat and debutant Nick Welch began with a reverse sweep to the boundary, but the home side soon put the clamps on during the powerplay. Gareth Delany scored a blistering 68 in the first meeting between the sides this term, but he fell for a duck lbw to Trevaskis. The Foxes’ other star from their victory over Durham at Headingley, Lilley came to the crease and dispatched Paul Coughlin for a six and a boundary to get his innings off running.
Welch tried to follow suit, but could only pick out Trevaskis on the leg-side boundary. Leicestershire struggled to find their rhythm in the powerplay, scoring only 26 from the opening six overs. The pressure to get the scoreboard moving was evident amid tight bowling from the hosts. It resulted in a brilliant run out as wicket-keeper David Bedingham gathered the ball and connected with his throw to the bowler’s end to dismiss Foxes skipper Colin Ackermann for 10.
Lilley attempted to up the run rate, taking the attack to Scott Steel with two maximums in the 10th over. However, his third attempt at a six cost him his wicket for 45 lofting the ball into the hands of Trevaskis at long-off. Trevaskis continued to be a thorn in the side of the Foxes – this time producing a diving one-handed catch of his own bowling to remove Lewis Hill.
Brydon Carse and Potts continued to stymie the visitors with strikes to send Tom Taylor and Ben Mike back to the pavilion. Potts saved his best for the final over, which cost only four runs, removing Harry Dearden for 30 and Will Davis for a duck. Leicestershire limped to a total of 130-9 from their 20 overs, putting pressure on their bowlers to respond.
Clark was dominant from the off dispatching Taylor for 20 in the first over, including three fours and six to hand Durham a lightning start. Alex Lees continued the assault from the other end with two boundaries off Gavin Griffiths before Clark finished the over with a drive through the covers to the fence. The right-hander reached 35 from only 13 balls before he was pinned lbw attempting to reverse sweep Ackermann. Pace off the ball yielded another wicket for the Foxes as Callum Parkinson turned one through Alex Lees’ gate.
The home side were well ahead of the required run rate, but Bedingham still managed to pick out the man on the fence to fall for nine to Mike. Raine kept Durham on course, maintaining his form from his impressive knock against Derbyshire. He cleared the rope with a well-placed hook to bring up the 100 in the 12th over. The left-hander was there at the end to notch his second T20 fifty in a row, powering his team over the line with 28 balls to spare by dispatching Will Davis for a maximum.
Matthew Potts – Post match reaction