Yesterday, Thursday 23 May, saw Durham Academy’s prospects play their second game in the Teesside University Macmillan Cup away to Seaton Carew Cricket Club.
This is the first season Durham play in the TU Macmillan Cup, after being invited last year, and it is expected that the involvement in the competition will develop the Academy’s skills in the limited overs formats.
Academy Head Coach John Windows said: “The NYSD League enables youngsters to play high-quality cricket, on high-quality pitches to help develop the lads’ one-day skills.”
“We are all absolutely delighted to be playing in the league and is a privilege to have been invited.”
Durham Academy (129/5; Greenwell 34, Scott 33) beat Seaton Carew (125/8; Whitworth 42) by 5 wickets.
Seaton had a strong first half to their innings with some smart batting helping them rack up the runs which was aided by some lackadaisical fielding from Durham.
The Academy fought back and claimed some wickets and had the Seasiders on the back foot during the final ten overs, which helped Durham be in with a chance to win.
Durham started the innings nervously and were 18/2 early on.
But industrious batting throughout the rest of the innings from Charlie Scott, Luke Doneathy and Ross Greenwell, who all tallied over 30 runs, had the game go down to the last few overs.
With Durham needing 9 runs off 13 balls, Jack McCarthy and Scott stepped up to the task and got the side over the line.
Durham will play Middlesbrough Cricket Club at Acklam Park in the semi-finals on Thursday 6th June.