The team took advantage of the fantastic facilities at the ICC Academy in Dubai for their training sessions. The quality of the nets and other practice facilities meant all the sessions were useful preparation for the tough season ahead.
In terms of games Durham CCC were able to get three games, each in a different format. The first game was a T20 match and was played at the 7’s ground in Dubai against Lancashire CCC. The team for this match was: Stoneman (c), Mustard (w), Borthwick, Stokes, Muchall, Clark, Pringle, Wood, McCarthy, Jennings, Coughlin.
Durham batted first and made a very respectable 170-5 off their 20 overs. Ben Stokes was the main contributor with the bat scoring 66 runs off 30 balls. The innings also featured Graham Clark going into bat for Durham and for his first ball having to face his brother Jordan; Graham winning the battle with an inside edge for four.
In Lancashire’s innings there was a first Durham wicket for Barry McCarthy on his debut and for long periods Durham looked like they would defend their total. However, with 33 required for victory off the last 3 overs, Alex Davies and Tom Bailey managed to steer Lancashire to victory with four balls to spare.
Durham CCC then played Sussex CCC in a hastily arranged 50 over game in Abu Dhabi. Durham made 249 all out from their 50 overs with notable contributions from Gordon Muchall 63, Phil Mustard 50 and Keaton Jennings 42 not out. When Sussex batted they were only able to make 226 all out, leaving Durham victors by 23 runs. The wickets were shared around with Pringle 3-40 and 2 wickets each for Wood, Stokes and Borthwick. You can see the full scorecard here on the Sussex CCC website.
The match practice was completed with a two day game against a UAE XI. In a game, where all 16 of the tour party played a part, there were a number of useful contributions. Over the course of the two days Borthwick top scored with 92, Collingwood, Stokes and Clark all passed 40 and Richardson made 35. Borthwick, Pringle, Arshad and Coughlin were the chief wicket takers.
Jon Lewis, 1st team coach was delighted, saying: ‘We had a tremendously useful 10 days, all of the players squeezed as much out of the opportunity as possible. Our thanks to Will Kitchen at the ICC Academy for helping to make the trip go so well’