Durham Academy are aiming for a repeat of their Banks NEPL T20 title win of 2016 after qualifying for the quarter-final of this year’s competition.
John Windows’ side will take on Brandon on Friday, 22 June for a place at Finals Day after winning Group A.
Despite losing the last fixture of the group at Eppleton on Friday, wins over Burnopfield & Tynemouth in the previous two matches gave them the upper hand on net-run-rate.
With three teams finishing on 12 points, their superior run-rate owed largely to a large win over Burnopfield in the first match. After posting 173/6 off 20 overs, they bowled the hosts out for 122.
The runs came via half centuries from Ross Greenwell, who has also featured for the Seconds this season, & Ben Seabrook, who scored his 55 off just 38 balls. The wickets were shared in reply, with Jamie Dass taking 3/18.
The second game was much tighter, chasing down Tynemouth’s 86/9 with just two wickets in hand, before a seven wicket defeat to Eppleton with seven balls remaining.
Brandon qualified from Group D with two wins from two, racking up an eye-watering 290/2 in their victory over Whitburn.
Ryan Pringle scored 107 not out off just 49 balls, including 10x4s & 8x6s, while former Durham man Karl Turner smashed 117 not out.