As the Durham players based at Emirates Riverside break for the Christmas period, those based abroad are continuing to impress through December.
We bring you all the news from Australia & New Zealand as Ben Stokes makes an impressive T20 debut for Canterbury, Liam Trevaskis scores a maiden century & Nathan Rimmington maintains his superb form.
Stokes starts with rapid 93
Ben Stokes’ first outing for Canterbury Kings in New Zealand’s BK Super Smash resulted in some super smashing as he tore Otago Volts’ bowling apart in Christchurch.
The left-hander carved seven huge sixes in a 47-ball 93 & looked in fine touch to help Canterbury post a whopping 217/9 from 20 overs. The visitors mustered just 83 in reply as Stokes removed their captain & opening batsman, Rob Nicol.
Stokes made 17 & went wicketless in their second match, an eight-run defeat to Central Districts.
Wood takes three in three
Mark Wood played a part in all three of England Lions’ T20 fixtures against Perth Scorchers as they warm up for Australia’s Big Bash League.
Wood took three wickets as the Scorchers recovered to win the series 2-1, with the opening two games played as test events at the new Perth Stadium.
The paceman’s best return came in the second match with figures of 1/21. Middlesex opener Nick Gubbins noted: “Woody’s bowling fast, really fast. He came back for the 15th over , took a wicket and then had a leg gully. He was bowling pretty hairy stuff.”
#CaptainLatham prepares to take reins
Tom Latham is gearing up to captain New Zealand in the final two One-Day Internationals against West Indies following their first ODI win.
The Durham man made 17 in a five-wicket win at Whangarei & will take over leadership duties from Kane Williamson as he sits out for a planned rest period.
Latham also recorded a pair of 22s in the second Test win last week, closing out a straightforward 2-0 series win for the Blackcaps.
Trevaskis, Rimmington shine
Durham’s quartet playing grade cricket continue to impress & Liam Trevaskis was the star this week as he notched a first century for North Canberra Gungahlin against Tuggeranong.
The left-hander scored 102 to follow up his 65 in the previous match, hitting a purple patch in the run-up to Christmas. He also took a wicket in Tuggeranong’s reply, though they held out for a draw on 248/8 in reply to North Canberra Gungahlin’s 323/7.
Meanwhile in Queensland, Nathan Rimmington kept up his superb run of form by producing his all-round performance of the season for Sandgate-Redcliffe against Gold Coast.
He finished with figures of 24.1-8-68-6, including the final five wickets to fall, before helping to see his side to victory with 92 off 121 balls.
Rimmington’s side have since beaten Wynnum/Manly in the 50-over competition, returning figures of 2/43, and recorded T20 wins over Redlands & Valley, taking 1/18 & 4/23 respectively.
Consistent Clark
After scoring his first century five weeks ago, Graham Clark has started to enjoy himself with Newtown & Chilwell.
Either side of scoring 42 in chasing just 83 in the T20 competition Clark notched two half-centuries. The first was a 78-ball 63 in a 50-over match at East Belmont, the second a quickfire 60 off 38 balls in the ongoing, two-day match against Leopold.
There’s been just one match for Cameron Steel since our last round-up, where he scored 10 in the dismantling of Fremantle. Ex-Somerset all-rounder Jim Allenby scored 117 & opener Jacob Whiteaker finished unbeaten on 122.