Durham Dynamos secured a 14 run victory over Somerset with three balls to spare in their Clydesdale Bank 40 campaign opener at Emirates Durham on Sunday.
After losing the toss and being put into bat in blustery conditions the Dynamos began steadily but lost Mark Stoneman (13) off the last delivery of the fifth over when he was caught by Craig Meschede off the bowling of Jamie Overton.
The Dynamos were 43-3 after losing Phil Mustard (14*) and Paul Collingwood (13*) within nine deliveries, both caught by Lewis Gregory, securing a wicket each for Peter Trego and Meschede.
A fourth wicket partnership of 124, which included a 16th limited overs fifty, off 65 balls, for Gordon Muchall, batting alongside Will Smith, steadied the Durham ship.
The Dynamos lost two wickets in quick succession, firstly Muchall, who was eventually dismissed on 75 when he was caught by Barrow off Overton, followed by Gareth Breese (4) five deliveries later, who was caught behind off Trego.
Smith reached his well deserved fifty off 63 deliveries before he was eventually dismissed in the 36th over, caught by Waller off George Dockerell on 55 and the Dynamos total at 190.
A quickfire 15 from Scott Borthwick saw the side reach 200 before he was caught by Overton becoming Dockerell’s second victim.
Craig and Jamie Overton combined to dismiss Liam Plunkett for just two leaving the Dynamos 203-8 with 3.3 overs of their innings remaining and a repeat performance in the following over saw Chris Rushwoth out for 4.
The Dynamos posted 222 in their innings with Mitchell Claydon the unbeaten batsman, on 8.
Jamie Harrison opened the Durham attack and marked his debut with a fourth ball wicket, trapping Kieswetter (4) lbw .
The 21 year old youngster struck again the following over, trapping Trego lbw without the batsman having added to the score.
Rushworth got in on the act in the sixth over, bowling James Hildreth (10) before he could build any momentum, as Somerset slumped to 24-3.
Liam Plunkett was back with a bang claiming four wickets in his eight over spell, including the scalps of Arul Suppiah (31*), who was caught spectacularly by Will Smith, and Craig Meschede, thanks to another outstanding catch in the field, this time from Gareth Breese.
Somerset were struggling on 147-8 when debutant Alex Barrow went to the middle and he made an impressive 72, taking Somerset to within sniffing distance of a win, before he was caught in the deep by Borthwick off the bowling off Mitchell Claydon with Somerset 205-9, requiring 17 runs from the last over.
Rushworth claimed the final wicket with three balls of the Somerset innings remaining, securing the Dynamos a win in their first game of the CB40 campaign.
At the close of play Durhamccc.co.uk spoke to Dynamos debutant Jamie Harrison, “I’m really happy with today. Muchy and Smudge got us out of a bit of trouble early on with a good partnership with support from the other batters at the end and then we came out and bowled really well.
“I think we all bowled well, I was a bit nervous at the start but the ball was swinging a little bit so that helped me out. I thought Liam bowled really well, taking four wickets.
“We’ve worked hard in training and done everything off the field to make sure we do as well as we can on the field and getting our first win under our belts today is a massive bonus.”