It was family fun day at Edgbaston today – lots of families in evidence but not much fun if you were a supporter of the Bears, who lost their second match in less than 24 hours. A Durham total of 194-9 proved too much for the home side who were bowled out for 168 in the 19th over. A high class innings of 63 off just 27 balls by David Bedingham and bowling figures of 5-21 by Ben Raine proved decisive.
Having won the toss on a bright, sunny afternoon in front of a sizeable crowd, Durham elected to bat first. They overcame the first over loss of Graham Clark, with Bedingham to the fore with shots all round the wicket. 45 runs came off overs three to five, with Aamer Jamal conceding 25 from what proved to be his only over. He later completed a miserable Blast debut by being bowled first ball.
Alex Lees saw little of the strike early on before Dan Mousley trapped him lbw. Lees gave umpire Sue Redfern the kind of look you might reserve for your mother-in-law if she spoke disapprovingly of your choice of socks. When Jake Lintott had Bellingham caught at short extra cover, he had handsomely
struck nine fours and two sixes.
Ollie Robinson and Ashton Turner put together a good partnership, but thereafter Durham regularly lost wickets thanks to some steady bowling and good catching. George Garton took three wickets and Mousley and Lintott claimed two apiece.
Although the pitch had little to offer the bowlers apart from some slow turn, the Bears clearly faced a difficult task, not made easier when Rob Yates was lbw to Callum Parkinson in the first over. Alex Davies and Dan Mousley put together a partnership of 79 off 44 balls, with Davies contributing 47 and Mousley 35, but once they had been removed, only Jacob Bethell offered much resistance. His 50 came off 32 balls and confirmed him as a young player of infinite promise. Ben Raine claimed the wickets of Mousley, Benjamin, Jamal, Garton and Lintott to complete a Durham win by 26 runs.
There is still all to play for in the Northern Group, but Durham will take heart from this
win and the Bears will be disappointed that their two wins in their opening games have
been followed by two losses.
