Durham are back in T20 Blast action tomorrow night when they take on rivals Yorkshire Vikings at Seat Unique Riverside.
Ryan Campbell has named a 15 player squad which sees the return of Michael Jones and Bas de Leede.
The Durham duo return from ICC Men’s T20 World Cup action representing Scotland and the Netherlands. As both countries have been knocked out of the tournament, they return to Chester le Street and are in contention tomorrow.
Tomorrow’s match comes on the back of Durham’s thrilling win over Lancashire Lightning on Sunday afternoon – with Campbell’s side now sitting fifth in the North group with 7 points.
Yorkshire are in 7th place with 6 points having won three of their six games.
Words from Graham Clark
“It was a lot closer than I would have liked at the end against Lancashire but the boys did an amazing job at the end, especially when the conditions were so tough and the ball was like a bar of soap. For the bowlers to get over the line there was awesome and it’s great to get the two points.”
“I’ve started hitting it quite nicely so that’s something positive that came from the Leicestershire game despite the defeat.”
“I’d love to bat on a pitch like that every day of the week, there was a lot of wind when we were batting and the old scoreboard side felt like the shorter boundary with the breeze.”
“(on David Bedingham) You keep thinking he’s due a failure but he keeps on delivering. The way he hits a ball, it’s actually scary. To stand at the non-striker’s end and see him go about his business, it’s just awesome.”
Squad v Yorkshire Vikings (21 June)
David Bedingham, Graham Clark, Paul Coughlin, Bas de Leede, George Drissell, Ben Dwarshuis, Michael Jones, Alex Lees, Ben McKinney, Callum Parkinson, Matthew Potts, Ben Raine, Ollie Robinson+, Nathan Sowter, Ashton Turner
Opposition Corner
Captain: Shan Masood
Overseas players: Donovan Ferreira (South Africa), Shan Masood (Pakistan)
Finals Day appearances: Three (2012, 2016, 2022)
Titles: None
2023 finish: Eighth (North Group)
2023 leading run-scorer: Dawid Malan (546)
2023 leading wicket-taker: Jordan Thompson (20)
Key winter moves: Yorkshire signed emerging South African international Donovan Ferreira to add power to their middle order. The 25-year-old will also take the wicketkeeping gloves. Left-arm spinner Dan Moriarty has arrived from Surrey, while Dawid Malan converted his contract at Headingley into a white-ball only deal.
The big question: Are Yorkshire going to have the bowling depth to make an impression? Seamers Mickey Edwards (foot) and Matt Milnes (back) have already been ruled out for the season with stress fractures, leaving little room for rest and rotation.
Wildcard watch: Eight Yorkshire players, including Jonny Bairstow, Harry Brook, Donovan Ferreira, Adil Rashid and Joe Root, will be involved in this summer’s Hundred. Leg-spinner Jafer Chohan was on Southern Brave’s roster last year but didn’t play. He should be key for the Vikings, and good form can catch the eye again.
Final thought: Yorkshire could do with a Blast boost. They have been a long way short of their pre-season title favourites tag in the first half of the County Championship Division Two campaign. With their seam-bowling stocks depleted, it could be a case of spin it to win it, with Dom Bess, Dan Moriarty and Jafer Chohan all good to go.