Durham Cricket Academy 110/8 (McKinney 41*, J Leslie 29; J Stuart 2/9) beat Sunderland 109/5 (M Allan 53) by 2 wickets
Durham Cricket boys’ Academy won a low scoring thriller against Sunderland in their opening North East Premier League Banks T20 group stage fixture at Ashbrooke.
The Academy lost the toss and Sunderland elected to bat, but lost two early wickets as Harry Crawshaw and Robbie Dawson both dismissed the Sunderland openers, as they were reduced to 34/2.
Christopher Youldon hit out but was caught on the boundary for 12 by Josh Leslie off the bowling of Jack Scott, with Sunderland in a bit of trouble at at 49/3. Soon losing Jack Johnson for 2 as he was pinned lbw by Regan Pattison.
Despite having lost four quick wickets, Mick Allan was still in the middle, as he top scored for the home side with 53 from 47 balls including four fours and one maximum.
Andrew Boal was the last to depart, as opening bowler Josh Leslie picked up his first, trapping him leg before.
Leslie, Dawson, Crawshaw, Scott and Pattison all picked up 1 wicket apiece, as Sunderland closed their 20 overs on 109/5.
The Academy were under pressure from the off, as they lost four wickets to find themselves 24/4 and still needing a further 86.
A 30 run stand between Ben McKinney and Stanley McAlindon proved key, McAlindon adding 16 before he was stumped by Youldon off the bowling of Allan.
A further two wickets fell, as Davies and Ward were dismissed in the space of three balls, with McKinney still at the crease, Durham still had a chance for victory.
Josh Leslie was the next in and he scored a 18 ball 29 with four fours and one six, but mistimed the ball and was caught by Joe Defty.
With two balls remaining Ben McKinney played off the bat foot, to score the winning runs as Durham edged home to win by 2 wickets.
McKinney proving key for Durham with an unbeaten 41 from 47 balls with 2 fours, as Durham got their NEPL T20 campaign up and running with victory.