Durham v Middlesex, Pro40, Chester-le-Street

Durham beat the rain and Middlesex

Cricinfo staff

July 26, 2007

Durham 146 for 5 (Mustard 49, Murtagh 3-26) beat Middlesex 145 for 8 (Morgan 52, Wiseman 3-30) by five wickets
Scorecard

A 21-ball blitz from Phil Mustard put Durham on course for a five-wicket win against Middlesex, which was eventually achieved with three balls to spare, in a match reduced to 19 overs per side by rain. Mustard sped to 49 with nine boundaries and Durham's middle order kept up the required rate.

Michael di Venuto fell to the first ball of Durham's chase, trapped lbw by Chaminda Vaas, but this didn't put Mustard off. He and Kyle Coetzer added 73 to bring the requirement down to a run-a-ball. Further heavy showers scudded across the ground to make life tough for the fielders, but the umpires stayed on throughout.

Murali Kartik produced a tight four-over spell, removing Mustard, and kept Middlesex in the hunt while Tim Murtagh's three scalps made Durham think. However, Gordon Muchall and Dale Benkenstein took their side most of the way.

Middlesex's innings fell away after a rollicking start from Eoin Morgan and Ed Smith. Morgan, the Ireland batsman, held his team together with a 46-ball 52, but Durham held their nerve with the ball and produced some electric fielding. The highlight was a stunning, running catch from Gary Park at long off to remove Murtagh.

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Matches

Durham v Middlesex at Chester-le-Street

Players/Umpires

Eoin Morgan

Phil Mustard

Series/Tournaments

Pro40 Division Two

England Domestic Season

Teams

Durham

England

Middlesex