Durham Dynamos lost their Clydesdale Bank 40 clash against Hampshire Royals by four wickets with ten balls to spare, despite an outstanding knock of 96 from Gordon Muchall
After losing the toss and being put into bat Durham Dynamos posted Hampshire Royals a target of 200 off a slow wicket for the win.
The Dynamos, captained by Dale Benkenstein, saw Paul Collingwood return to action following his hand injury and had Johann Myburgh making his Durham limited overs debut.
Durham lost Phil Mustard in the third over when he was caught behind off Kabir Ali for 5.
Fellow opener Mark Stoneman (16) put on a 32 run partnership with Paul Collingwood before he spooned up a Dimi Mascarenhas delivery which was held on to by Sean Ervine at mid off.
The Dynamos were 41-3 after Ben Stokes’ leg stump is removed by Wood with his score at just one.
After being referred to the third umpire Paul Collingwood (28) was confirmed as run out with Durham 59-4.
A superb 83 run partnership between Gordon Muchall, whose fifty came off 69 deliveries and included three boundaries, and Dale Benkenstein game some impetus to the Durham innings. As the visitors fell into the final quarter of their innings it was Benkenstein who became Sean Ervine’s only victim when he was bowled on 31.
Ali claimed two further scalps in the closing stages of the Durham innings, claiming the wickets of former Hampshire player Johann Myburgh (8) who was bowled and Gareth Breese (7) who was caught by Davidson.
Durham finished their innings with 200 on the board with Gordon Muchall unbeaten on 96 having played a superb innings.
Both Hampshire openers started well and put on 73 before their wickets fell within one over of each other with Jimmy Adams (33) caught by Paul Collingwood off the bowling of Scott Borthwick and James Vince (40) bowled beautifully by Gareth Breese.
A bowling change in the 24th over brought about a much needed wicket with Mitchell Claydon trapping Neil McKenzie (15) lbw with the Royals total at 106-3, requiring just over a run a ball to secure a win.
Borthwick claimed his second wicket to further disadvantage the home side as the pressure mounted when Ervine (19) was caught by Muchall as he attempted to slog over the ropes. The off spinner claimed a third victim when Dawson was stumped on 4, in the 36th over.
Dimitri Mascarenhas hit 22 from 11 balls to push Hampshire within inches of the win and his dismissal, lbw to Scott Borthwick in the penultimate over, left the hosts requiring just two runs.
Simon Katich (59*) and Kabir Ali (1*) were the unbeaten pair as Hampshire claimed the win by four wickets with ten deliveries remaining.
At the close of play Dale Benkenstein said, “I think we did well in the end to get to 200 and if we had a few more wickets in hand we thought 220 would have been a good score and 200 gave us a good chance. We were a few light but during the game we always felt we were in the game.
“I think the pitch had a bit more moisture than it normally has, its normally quite dry and slow so there was a little bit in it for the new ball but it was slow, but I probably would have batted first anyway.
“From where we were to actually get to 200 was down to a brilliant innings from Muchy [Gordon Muchall] and gave us a real chance. We did feel when we were out there that they had one or two wickets too many in hand.”