Northamptonshire 223-4, Durham 192-9 – Northamptonshire Steelbacks won by 31 runs
Chris Lynn put Durham to the sword with a display of brutal power hitting as Northamptonshire racked up an imposing 223 for four which proved too much for Durham.
In his first Vitality Blast home game for the Steelbacks, Lynn took an instant liking to Wantage Road blasting 83 from just 46 balls. He dispatched three deliveries high over deep midwicket into Wellingborough Road, while another new ball was needed when he hit Liam Trevaskis onto the roof of the Turner Stand.
Thrilling a large crowd in bright sunshine, the Australian peppered the boundary boards all around the ground, displaying deft strokeplay and excellent placement. In total he struck the Durham attack for eight sixes and four boundaries.
Durham started brightly, easily outscoring Northamptonshire in the powerplay with Graham Clark clubbing a brisk half-century. But when Clark fell and Australian international Ashton Turner had to leave the field injured, Durham lost wickets at regular intervals as the chase proved too high.
Lynn shared a partnership of 149 for the first wicket with Ben Curran who also kept up the pace with 71 from just 43 balls. Particularly strong on the sweep, Curran struck 12 boundaries and a maximum as the pair put on 59 in the power play and went on to post a commanding stand of 149 for the first wicket in 13 overs.
Durham’s woes continued when Ben Raine was taken off mid over for bowling three balls over shoulder height and was unable to bowl again in the innings.
Turner raised their hopes when he picked up Curran and Saif Zaib with consecutive deliveries but that was only a brief respite as Lynn continued the carnage. He fell finally attempting a pull shot off Coughlin. Trevaskis took a well-held diving catch running in from the boundary behind square off Coughlin.
Rob Keogh picked up where Lynn had left off, hitting Coughlin for consecutive sixes over deep midwicket on his way to an unbeaten 36 from just 21 balls.
As Durham began their chase, Clark started in aggressive mode, hitting Matthew Kelly down the ground for six before hitting another over deep midwicket off Tom Taylor.
Michael Jones also went on the offensive, targeting Ben Sanderson’s first over, hitting a six high over long-off, swinging over square leg for another maximum, before finishing with two boundaries down the ground.
At 60 without loss after four overs, Durham were well in control, but the north east side suffered a setback when Jones fell to an excellent diving catch by Zaib off Kelly for 26.
Turner hit his countryman Kelly over midwicket for six and had moved onto 21 from just seven deliveries when he dived to ground his bat and suffered a suspected shoulder injury. He left the field to be assessed by the Durham medical staff.
Durham looked comfortable though at 85 for one after the powerplay. Clark hit a six off Graeme White and brought up his half-century off just 24 balls, but soon after was caught behind by Lewis McManus off leg-spinner Freddie Heldreich.
The visitors were in further disarray in the next over when Coughlin was bowled by White to leave Durham stuttering on 117 for three.
David Bedingham tried to up the pace, hitting a huge maximum over the scoreboard at square leg. He had a stroke of luck when two miss-hits fell short of the fielders off Taylor, but was caught off a reverse sweep in Heldreich’s next over for 31.
Heldreich had two wickets in two balls when Ned Eckersley drilled one straight to Josh Cobb in the ring to leave Durham five down still needing another 74 to win.
With the pressure mounting, wickets continued to fall with Keogh taking a stunning one-handed grab in the deep to remove Raine. With Turner unable to resume his innings, Durham’s innings ended on 192-9 from 18.2 overs, handing the Steelbacks victory by 31 runs.