Durham Cricket Academy Head Coach John Windows is delighted with his side’s T20 performances this season and believes their middle order spin will be key to winning Sunday’s final.
The Academy will be looking to claim their first piece of silver wear of the summer when they take on Billingham Synthonia Cricket Club in the final of the North Yorkshire South Durham (NYSD) MacMillan trophy on Sunday, 23 June.
Window’s side enjoyed a high scoring victory over Middlesbrough Cricket Club in the semi-final and will be looking for more of the same when the Academy prospects travel to Chiltons Avenue this Sunday.
Windows said: “I am really looking forward to the final, it’s always exciting to get to a final and a good opportunity for the lads to play well on a big stage.
“The lads are starting to get the hang of 20/20 cricket and have played some decent cricket along the way, particularly the spin in the middle has been impressive, the fellas have taken to the challenge and risen to it.”
Durham Academy all-rounder Luke Doneathy is excited ahead of Sunday’s final, he said: “I am looking forward to showing our skills and hard work off as a group and hopefully win some silver wear.
“I am thoroughly pleased with the team’s performances, everyone has shown capability and been a real asset throughout.
“Everyone has shown capability and has been a real asset throughout, hopefully everyone can come together and perform for the final.”
In the semi-final Doneathy and Rory Hanley helped Durham recover from 38/3 to 148/4 in a fourth wicket stand of 110, Doneathy scoring 53 from 39 balls.
He said: “It’s always nice to get a personal milestone especially when the team wins, as you can have a sense of achievement that you helped the team, but as long as the team win’s that is all that counts.
“To win any cup would be brilliant but do it at the first time of asking adds an extra something and really shows the strength and progression that the academy is making in hopefully becoming a real dominant side.”
Billingham Synthonia impressed in their quarter final tie against current ECB National Club Champions Richmondshire chasing down 175 to win by six wickets but faced a tighter contest in their semi-final against Great Ayton to win by 4 runs after posting 119/8 from 20 overs.
Windows said: “I don’t know too much about Billingham, their two pace bowlers have spent a bit of time training up here [Emirates Riverside] so Wing and Harper will be familiar faces. They are a really competitive side, so we have to very much think on how feet, but they’ve got some good cricketers.”