A record-equalling performance from Graham Clark could not quite get the Jets over the line in the return 2015 fixture against the Yorkshire Vikings at Headingley.
Jonny Bairstow’s magnificent 92 eventually stole the show as the hosts reached a large target of 192 with nine balls remaining.
The England wicketkeeper was largely to thank for the Yorkies, striking 92 from just 42 balls, before Tim Bresnan closed the show with a quickfire 24.
Though the Jets were not able to record back-to-back victories over their rivals in the Natwest T20 Blast, batsman Clark announced his name on the first XI stage with a remarkable innings.
In just his third T20 game for Jon Lewis’ side, his 91* equalled Phil Mustard’s previous best for the club in a total of 191/6.
Even more impressive, then, that Clark came in at three as wickets fell around him.
Phil Mustard perished in the first over, bringing the 22-year-old to the crease, and before long the Jets were struggling badly on 49/4.
Not content to just survive, Clark imposed himself on the Vikings’ attack with boundaries in five consecutive deliveries during the powerplay overs.
He moved to his half century inside the 12th over and struck Rashid for a pair of fours before losing Gordon Muchall and Usman Arshad as they looked to up the scoring rate towards the end of the innings.
Even though he closed in on three figures, Clark was starved of the strike in the final few overs thanks to the brilliance of John Hastings.
The Australian all-rounder was at his brutal best with the bat, as he had been in the return fixture, to get Durham up to 187/6.
His 12-ball 43 gave the Jets vital momentum with 40 from the final two overs, finishing the final three deliveries with a maximum and two fours.
Hastings carried the momentum into his bowling performance, too, removing dangerman Aaron Finch with the game’s very first ball and Andrew Gale at the start of his next over.
With Alex Lees caught behind off Arshad’s bowling and Glen Maxwell bowled by Scott Borthwick soon after, the Vikings were falling behind the rate and losing wickets at an alarming rate.
Enter Bairstow’s match-winning innings, expertly moving through the gears to gradually put the pressure back on the Jets bowling attack.
Successive sixes in overs after the half way mark were a warning side that the hosts were not out of contention and a big 15th over off Chris Rushworth, which went for 19 runs, put them back on par.
Jack Leaning had ably assisted Bairstow, chipping in with boundaries himself, and he remained for the end as Bresnan cut loose in the final overs.
A single off Graham Clark’s sole 18th over teed up a run at Arshad and the bowler was on the end of three boundaries as Bresnan closed the show with back-to-back sixes.
Another closely-run, high-scoring contest between the two sides – and we expect a couple more this time around!