Cricket

Durham's Vitality Blast campaign received a significant boost as they secured a crucial 22-run victory over Worcestershire Rapids at the Seat Unique Riverside. The hosts' batting lineup, led by Michael Jones' blistering cameo, set a formidable target of 190 for 5, which proved too daunting for the visitors despite Kashif Ali's valiant effort.Durham's innings got off to a promising start with Graham Clark and Alex Lees providing a solid foundation. Lees smashed the first six of the night, but the Rapids fought back with the wickets of both openers. Ollie Robinson and Colin Ackermann then consolidated the innings, using the spacious dimensions of Chester-le-Street to their advantage.However, Brett D'Oliveira broke the partnership, dismissing Ackermann for 19. Robinson continued to impress, hitting two sixes off D'Oliveira, but his innings was cut short when he was caught for 41. Jones then took center stage, smashing 39 from just 17 balls, including a six that sailed out of the ground. His late onslaught helped Durham post a challenging total.Worcestershire's chase began slowly, with the Rapids struggling to keep up with the required run rate. D'Oliveira's early departure put further pressure on the visitors. Ali and Cobb attempted to revive the innings, but Ali's dismissal for 45 proved a major setback.Durham's bowlers maintained a tight grip on the game, with Ben Raine claiming the key wickets of Ali and Adam Hose. Gareth Roderick's six gave Worcestershire a glimmer of hope, but Raine struck again to remove him for 18. Late wickets from Ben Dwarshuis, Bas de Leede, and Raine sealed the victory for Durham.This win puts Durham in a strong position to qualify for the quarter-finals for the first time since 2018. The Rapids, on the other hand, face an uphill battle to qualify after losing their last six matches in the competition.

Scotland's Men's T20 World Cup squad has undergone a significant reshuffle, with the return of experienced duo Michael Jones and Brad Wheal. However, the absence of Somerset seamer Josh Davey has raised eyebrows.Jones and Wheal, representing Durham and Hampshire respectively, were initially omitted from Scotland's squad for the T20 Tri-Series against Netherlands and Ireland. However, they have now been cleared by their counties to participate in the World Cup campaign. Sussex 2nd XI wicketkeeper Charlie Tear has also been added to the squad, replacing seam bowler Gavin Main.Davey's exclusion is a notable setback for Scotland. The Somerset seamer has been a key figure in the team's recent T20 World Cup campaigns, including the 2021 tournament where he claimed nine wickets at an impressive average of 13.66.Sources indicate that neither Davey nor his Somerset teammate Andy Umeed, who is uncapped at T20I level, were made available for World Cup selection. Davey's absence is particularly disappointing given his wealth of experience and consistent performances for Somerset.Scotland head coach Doug Watson acknowledged the difficulty in selecting the final squad. "It was a really difficult selection meeting and it's never easy getting it down to a squad of 15," Watson said. "It was ultimately about getting the balance of the squad just right and we feel we've done that here."Watson expressed excitement about the squad's potential. "It's good that we've got some of our county players available, and we are really excited with the 15 we've chosen, so now we can look forward to what lies ahead."Scotland will face a challenging group stage in the World Cup, with matches against England, Namibia, Oman, and Australia. The top two teams from each group will advance to the Super Eight phase, followed by the knockout semi-finals and final."To have Michael Jones and Brad Wheal available, their experience from previous T20 World Cups is crucial for the group," Watson said. "The bulk of the squad have been together for a while now and did a fantastic job last summer at both the 50-over Qualifier and the T20 Qualifier. It's nice to have a bit of continuity along the way, although they haven't played a lot of cricket since."Watson is optimistic about Scotland's chances in the tournament. "Hopefully, we can see the same level from these players, if not higher, when we get to the Caribbean," he said. "I'm very excited about what lies ahead and I think the players are too, the closer we get to it. For us as a nation, it's a real opportunity to shine on the global stage. That first game against England, it'll be quite a day - but we won't look too far ahead."