Durham Cricket’s 2nd XI earned a trip to Arundel next Thursday after securing two wins against Warwickshire at Barnt Green on Wednesday.
A scintillating bowling display by a young Ds side skittled the hosts out for 114 in game one – Ben Whitehead taking 3-25 with able assistance from Gavin Main (2-14, including a double wicket maiden) abd Oliver Gibson (2-18).
Josh Coughlin and Cameron Steel also contributed with a wicket apiece.
In reply Harry Adair (36) and Jonathan Bushnell (24) got Durham off to a blistering start – Adair hitting five consecutive boundaries in the second over.
Michael Jones (42*) and Cameron Steel (14*) chased down the total with 35 balls to spare – securing the Finals berth.
If the first game was a procession for Durham, the second was anything but.
Ed Pollock hit a 39 ball century at the top of the Warkwickshire order as the hosts set a target of 194 for the Ds to chase down.
The wickets were shared around with Gareth Harte taking 2-23 – Coughlin, Main, Whitehead, Steel and Ross Greenwell taking one each.
In response, Durham lost wickets at regular interviews after Adair (28) and Bushnell (38) put together a solid opening stand.
Sol Bell and Ned Eckersley moved the score on to 162-4 before Bell departed for 38.
Eckersley almost ran out of partners as he scored an unbeaten 57 – but number 11 Main stuck around long enough for Durham to secure a one wicket victory.