Bowlers set up convincing Worcs win

Worcestershire reproduced their excellent T20 form with a thumping seven-wicket over Durham in a rain-affected Royal London Cup contest at Chester-le-Street.

The visitors top the North Group table in the Natwest T20 Blast and blew Durham away comprehensively in this 22-over contest. Only two home batsmen reached double figures in a total of 90 all out, the seventh-lowest List A total in Durham's history.

Worcestershire bowled exceptionally after electing to field first on a surface conducive to bowling, with four bowlers each picking up two wickets. Victory was rarely in doubt and despite three early Chris Rushworth wickets, they reached their target with 17 balls remaining.

The match length was twice revised after a number of frustrating showers added to overnight rain, before a break in the clouds allowed the umpires to call a prompt start at 3.30pm. Visiting captain Joe Leach, standing in for the injured Daryl Mitchell, had very little hesitation in electing to field first.

A catastrophic run out by Phil Mustard in the fourth over, charging to the non-striker's end while Mark Stoneman stood his ground, set off an all-too familiar Durham batting collapse.

From 24 for 0, they slumped to 46 for 5 as they struggled to get to grips with conditions and the seam movement of Worcestershire's quick bowlers.

Graham Clark was excellently caught by wicketkeeper Ben Cox, Scott Borthwick chopped on after being surprised by extra bounce while Stoneman and Keaton Jennings fell to Ed Barnard, the former beaten by a terrific delivery which just clipped the bails.

Paul Collingwood staged a lone recovery through the middle overs but soon came under pressure from the scoreboard, with Durham managing only five boundaries in their entire innings.

Fellow allrounder Ryan Pringle, fresh from a maiden century at Derbyshire during the week, threatened to offer resistance before he knocked an easy catch back to Brett D'Oliveira And Collingwood eventually holed out in an attempt to up the scoring rate, as Durham limped to 90 inside the final over.

Rushworth's new ball spell of 3 for 19 did offer Durham hope, trapping Tom Kohler-Cadmore lbw in the first over before removing the off stump of both Leach and Joe Clarke. But small target allowed the batsmen to settle in as D'Oliveira and Alexei Kervezee's partnership of 60 saw them home with consummate ease.