Durham all-rounder Ben Raine has applauded his side’s ability to win the ‘big moments’ in matches after delivering a stunning match-winning spell of his own at Sussex this week.
Raine took a career-best 6/27, including four wickets for no runs either side of lunch, to help his side to a 196-run, their first win at Hove since 2011.
It was an excellent all-round team performance, with captain Cameron Bancroft & Ned Eckersley hauling them from a dangerous position of 90/5 to a first innings score which helped Durham dominate the rest of proceedings.
“We’ve talked as a squad about putting in the hard yards and standing up and winning the big moments in games and we did that here,” said Raine as Durham turn their attentions to tomorrow’s clash with Lancashire.
“It was the sort of good team performance we’ve been talking about producing and it sets us up nicely for the second half of the season.”
Following the dramatic Derbyshire victory, in which Raine also played a big part in a last gasp victory, and a heavily rain-affected draw with Northants, Durham go into the match on a three-game unbeaten run.
Having now lifted themselves off the foot of the table, James Franklin’s side are aiming to continue their upwards advances. Raine believes they can trouble the best in the division.
“It gets us off the bottom of the table and I still think we could have a shot at promotion,” the all-rounder said.
“We’re not that far off the top three at all and after this performance one or two teams will be worrying about us.”