Mustard's hot streak produces rankings surge

Phil Mustard’'s match-winning efforts against both Surrey and Glamorgan in the Clydesdale Bank 40 this weekend saw him record the highest individual points score in the history of the FTI Most Valuable Player rankings.

The Durham left-hander blasted 143 runs from just 91 balls against Surrey on Saturday before picking up two catches and two stumpings as his side won by 156 runs. His performance earned him 45.10 points in the rankings system run by the Professional Cricketers’ Association as a statistical benchmark to judge each player in relation to his peers.

Just 24 hours later he helped himself to another century and a stumping against Glamorgan that added another 33.19 to his MVP total -– taking his weekend tally to a remarkable 78.29 points. Mustard'’s total against Surrey was over five MVP points more than the previous best in the CB40 competition posted by Grant Flower of Essex against Gloucestershire in May 2010.

His knock included 12 fours and seven sixes and contributed 47.99 per cent of Durham'’s total. He then caught Jason Roy and Zander de Bruyn at the wicket, and stumped Gary Wilson and Rory Burns as the visitors were bowled out for 156 in just 29.1 overs. The 107 runs he plundered against Glamorgan in a Durham total of 307 came off 61 balls and included nine fours and four sixes.

Mustard now tops the overall FTI MVP rankings in the CB40 and is sixth overall across all competitions in 2012. He is also sixth in the all-time points table having not even featured in the top ten at the start of the season.

Meanwhile, Mustard smashed his own 66-ball county record, set at home to Nottinghamshire this season, and is now Durham’s leading one-day century-maker with seven.

The Glamorgan match was the first one-day game at Riverside which has featured three centuries, all by left-handed openers. Mark Stoneman made an unbeaten 112, while Mark Wallace scored hismaiden one-day hundred for Glamorgan. As Stoneman also made an unbeaten century against Scotland he now has 456 runs in the competition at an average of 65.14.

Mustard’s 143 against Surrey was the second highest one-day score made for Durham behind Ben Stokes’ 150 not out at Edgbaston last year.


Date: 13/08/2012 11:51:58 by MBaldwin
In: Today | Durham |