Durham strengthened their push toward the knockout stage of the Metro Bank One-Day Cup with a 20-run win over Essex at Darlington on Sunday. Colin Ackermann held the innings together with an unbeaten 80, and Ben Stokes added a quick-fire 43 before Essex, despite Noah Thain’s 76, fell short while chasing in a match reduced by rain.
The loss ends Essex’s hopes of advancing further in the competition, while Durham now need one more win to book their knockout spot.
Ackermann Anchors Durham After Early Collapse
Rain delayed the start of play, and the match was cut to 38 overs a side. Essex won the toss, chose to field, and made early inroads, dismissing Alex Lees without scoring and reducing Durham to 30 for 3 within seven overs.
Jamie Porter and Charlie Bennett troubled the top order, accounting for Ollie Robinson and Will Rhodes cheaply. Stokes then took the attack to the Essex bowlers, hitting five fours and two sixes in a 27-ball innings before he was caught behind off Simon Harmer, a decision he clearly disputed.
David Bedingham contributed 38 before being trapped leg-before, leaving Durham at 87 for 4. Ackermann and captain Kasey Aldridge repaired the innings with an unbroken 103-run stand off just 16 overs. Ackermann finished unbeaten on 80 from 85 deliveries, and Aldridge remained not out on 35 as Durham posted 229 for 5.
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Thain’s Run-Out Turns the Chase
Set 230 to win, Essex lost Luc Benkenstein early, caught off Duanne Olivier for 9. Tom Westley and Thain steadied the innings until Westley was bowled by Rhodes for 17.
Rhodes struck twice more in quick succession, removing Matt Critchley leg-before and then having Grant Roelofsen caught off Kasey Aldridge, which pushed Essex to 110 for 4 in the 22nd over.
Thain kept the chase alive and passed 500 runs for the season in this year’s competition, but he was run out for 76 two overs later following a mix-up between the wickets. That dismissal swung the momentum back toward Durham.
Harmer and Simon Fernandes then added 47 runs together, though Harmer’s exit for 32 left Essex needing 62 runs from six overs. James Minto took three wickets in the closing overs, including two in one over, and bowled Essex out for 209 with a ball to spare.
Gay Rested Ahead of Test Duty
England opener Emilio Gay did not feature for Durham as a precaution, having retired hurt with a shoulder injury during the defeat to Middlesex on Friday. A scan on Saturday indicated he should be fit in time to face Pakistan in the Test series starting August 19.
Durham travel to Worcestershire on Tuesday, where a win at New Road would confirm their place in the knockout stage. Essex, meanwhile, have been eliminated from this year’s Metro Bank One-Day Cup after the defeat at Darlington.
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