Durham (313/5; Jennings 139, Cook 60; Thomason 4/64; 2 points) beat Warwickshire 241; Trott 92; Weighell 5/57; 0 points) by 72 runs
Keaton Jennings scored a magnificent century & James Weighell recorded a five-wicket haul as Durham got their Royal London Cup campaign up and running in with a 72-run victory over Warwickshire in a rain-reduced match at Edgbaston.
Durham were lifted to a hefty 313/5 from 39 overs by Jennings’ one-day-best 139, supported by Stephen Cook’s 60 and Michael Richardson (49).
Weighell then stifled the hosts’ attempts to up the run-rate and finished with a five-for in his first bowl in a List A game – his ‘debut’ came in last week’s rained off encounter with Derbyshire.
The 23-year-old did the damage through the middle but Chris Rushworth and Mark Wood shared three wickets in eight overs to inflict crucial early damage upon Warwickshire’s reply.
From 43/3, there was no way back for the Bears, who mustered only 241 all out despite Jonathan Trott’s 92 – his sixth 50-plus score in eight RL Cup innings.
Put in under grey skies with the overs already reduced to 39-per-side, Durham prospered on a good batting wicket as openers Jennings and Cook added 129 in 19.1 overs before the latter skied Aaron Thomason to wicketkeeper Tim Ambrose.
Jennings and Richardson kept the scoring-rate high with a stand of 123 in 13.4 overs.
After Thomason knocked out Richardson’s leg-stump, Jennings advanced to his second one-day century – his first for Durham – and continued on with a series of commanding strokes.
Young seamer Thomason ended with four expensive wickets while the only other wicket-taker was Grant Thornton, whose first in county cricket arrived when he trapped Graham Clark lbw.
Durham inflicted rapid blows on Warwickshire’s reply as Rushworth’s fourth ball forced a skied pull from William Porterfield and his 22nd trapped Sam Hain lbw.
An impressive spell from Wood then gained reward when Ian Bell edged to wicketkeeper Stuart Poynter.
Former England men Trott & Ambrose added 79 in 12.4 overs but Weighell struck with his fifth ball which Ambrose edged to the keeper.
Weighall also dismissed Rikki Clarke, caught at point, and although Trott and Thomason added 52 brisk runs, with 124 required from ten overs, something spectacular rather than brisk was required.
When Trott lifted Weighell to long-off, Warwickshire’s last hope went with him and all that remained was for Weighell to complete his maiden List A five-for as Thornton and Jeetan Patel sent up catches.
Durham now travel to the Yorkshire Vikings on Wednesday with a point in the bag before Friday’s encounter with Leicestershire at South North.