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As the 2024 T20 Vitality Blast enters round two, Durham aims to secure a spot in the top four of the North Group. Currently sitting in fifth place due to a negative Net Run Rate (NRR), Durham shares the same number of points as Northants and Leicestershire. A decisive win in their upcoming match could significantly boost their NRR and their position in the standings.
On the other hand, Worcestershire languish at the bottom of the table with just four points from eight games. After enduring five consecutive losses, Worcestershire are desperate for a turnaround and will be keen to avoid another defeat against Durham. The match will take place at the Riverside Ground in Chester-le-Street.
Teams Preview
Durham Preview
Following thrilling victories over Yorkshire and Lancashire, Durham will seek a more straightforward win against Worcestershire. A big victory could enhance their NRR and push them into the top four. Graham Clark has been a standout performer for Durham, amassing 258 runs this season at an average of 43. His recent form includes two half-centuries in the last four games, with a near fifty in the last match against Yorkshire. Ben Raine remains Durham’s top wicket-taker with 12 wickets, despite a recent dip in form. He has managed three wickets in his last two games, providing crucial breakthroughs for his team.
Durham Predicted Playing XI:
Graham Clark, Alex Lees (c), David Bedingham, Ollie Robinson, Bas de Leede, Michael Jones, Ben Raine, Ben Dwarshuis, George Drissell, Callum Parkinson, Nathan Sowter
Worcestershire Preview
Worcestershire’s campaign has been plagued by poor form, leaving them at the bottom of the table. With only four points from eight matches, they need a victory to salvage their season. Ethan Brookes is Worcestershire’s top scorer with 183 runs, although his average of 22.87 indicates inconsistency. Rob Jones and Ed Pollock have shown flashes of form but need to deliver more substantial contributions. Tom Taylor has been the standout bowler for Worcestershire, taking 10 wickets this season. His recent performances include a three-wicket haul against Surrey and another three-wicket game against Birmingham Bears.
Worcestershire Predicted Playing XI:
Kashif Ali, Ed Pollock, Josh Cobb, Gareth Roderick, Adam Hose (c), Ethan Brookes, Nathan Smith, Rob Jones, Tom Taylor, Hayden Walsh, Amar Virdi
Pitch and Weather Conditions
The weather forecast for Chester-le-Street suggests overcast conditions with a 50% chance of rain. This could make batting tricky in the second innings. The pitch at Riverside Ground has produced 170+ scores recently when Durham batted first, although recent games saw sub-150 scores.
Pitch Report:
The average first-innings score at this ground is 160, while the winning average is 169. Durham’s highest score here is 223, and the lowest is 78.
Toss Prediction:
Winning the toss and opting to bat could be advantageous, given Durham’s recent success batting first. Both teams will look to set a competitive total and exploit the conditions.
Winning Prediction
Worcestershire’s form has been underwhelming, with only two wins in eight group matches. Despite a recent County Championship win over Durham, the T20 format favors Durham, especially with in-form players like Graham Clark.
Prediction: Durham to win.