Durham 182 for 2 (Steel 68, Lees 51*) v Yorkshire – match abandoned
Durham were knocked out of the Royal London One-day Cup as rain ruined their final group clash with Yorkshire at Emerald Headingley.
Durham had reached 182 for 2 in 34.2 overs when the weather intervened for a second time shortly after 3.30pm, with Scott Steel hitting 68 and Alex Lees 51 not out against the county he left late last summer.
Unfortunately for the visitors, however, they were unable to get back onto the field and had to settle for a No Result and a point, which wasn’t enough to secure a top three finish in the North Group.
It means that Lancashire have qualified for the knockout rounds later this week in third place behind Worcestershire and Nottinghamshire.
There was also frustration for England fast bowler Mark Wood, who failed to get onto the field during his first scheduled appearance of the summer as his fitness continues to be managed ahead of the World Cup.
Yorkshire were already out of contention for qualification and missed out for the first time in six years.
Durham were going nicely and on course for a total in excess of 300 against an inexperienced Vikings side including List A debutants Tom Loten and Ben Birkhead – both Academy players – and young seamer Jared Warner.
Tom Kohler-Cadmore was captaining Yorkshire for the first time in a competitive match and elected to bowl upon winning the toss.
In posting an unbeaten 51, left-handed Lees reached 50 for the fifth successive 50-over innings, including a century.
Ben Raine, who hit a leg-side six in 32, and Steel shared 55 inside seven overs for the first wicket before the former edged Tim Bresnan behind down the leg-side.
Bresnan returned the pick of the home figures, conceding only 36 in 10 overs, and added the second wicket of Steel when he pulled to deep square-leg in the 28th over (159 for two).
Lees launched Jack Leaning’s off-spin for six over long-on early in his innings and was particularly strong on the drive as he reminded his former employers of his capabilities.
Steel reached his fifty off 70 balls and Lees off 63 as they shared 109 inside 21 overs for the second wicket. Cameron Bancroft later pulled a six off Josh Poysden in 18 not out.
Following a near two-and-a-half-hour rain delay from 1.05pm, with the score at 179 for 2 from 33.1 overs, Durham innings was cut short to 36 overs. But there was only time for seven more balls before rain returned to end the innings.
Yorkshire rested Adam Lyth, Gary Ballance, Jonny Tattersall, captain Steve Patterson and South African fast bowler Duanne Olivier having had their qualification hopes dashed with defeat at Worcestershire on Saturday.
Added to the trio of List A debutants, Will Fraine was also making his Yorkshire senior debut.
The game was abandoned just after 5.30pm.
Source: ESPN Crickinfo