Result: Durham (185; Muchall 40; Azharullah 5/43) lost to Northants Steelbacks (355/6; Keogh 134, Newton 65; Pringle 2/39) by 170 runs
Durham dropped to a heavy 170-run defeat at the hands of Northants in the Royal London One-Day Cup tie at Wantage Road.
Rob Keogh’s 134, also his maiden List A hundred, helped the home side post 355/6 before five-wickets for Azharullah bowled Durham out for 185.
Gordon Muchall made 40 but it was merely a consolation as three wickets inside the first ten overs stifled any momentum in the run chase.
It leaves Wednesday’s match against Warwickshire at South Northumberland as a huge one if Durham are to get out of the North Group.
Keogh’s measured innings came in a stand of 149 with Rob Newton for the fourth wicket, who also reached 50.
It took Keogh only 31 balls to go between 50 and 100, with a further six fours and a six – lifted over midwicket during an over from Scott Borthwick.
It came after the hosts started slowly before losing Adam Rossington, caught superbly by Mark Stoneman at cover off Paul Coughlin.
They had to wait patiently for another wicket as Josh Cobb reached 56 but the wickets of him, caught and bowled by Borthwick, alongside that of Alex Wakely slowed the run-rate before the big fourth wicket partnership.
Even after the pair departed, both caught off Jamie Harrison and Ryan Pringle respectively, Rory Kleinveldt finished the innings off with 32 in 13 balls.
With around seven an hour required, early wickets would always significantly stifle Durham’s chase and Richard Gleeson found two – Stoneman hurried trying to pull, caught at mid-on and Borthwick caught-behind trying to leave.
Quick bowler Azharullah was then introduced for a three-wicket spell to rip out the middle order, including Jack Burnham for 26.
There was brief success for Pringle and Muchall in a 50-run partnership as the former launched Graeme White’s first ball over the rope.
But the left-arm spinner had his revenge, finishing with both their wickets, before Azharullah picked up the final two wickets to leave Durham with a hefty defeat.