Alex Lees takes no pleasure from first Durham century in losing cause

The 26-year-old went to three figures for the first time since joining from Yorkshire but in defeat to Lancashire in the One-Day Cup

Alex Lees has admitted scoring his first one-day century for Durham was bittersweet in the club’s defeat to Lancashire at Gosforth.

Lees scored a career-best 115 in his side’s three-wicket loss as a late cameo from former Durham man Graham Onions turned the contest in the favour of the visitors in the dying stages.

However, the 26-year-old has highlighted Durham’s improvement in the Royal London One-Day Cup this season after their dismal 2018 campaign, scoring three half-centuries as well as a hundred against Lancashire.

Lees says he is pleased to have found a level of consistency at the crease, although he would prefer to score his runs in winning efforts. 

“It’s quite nice on a personal level to get my first hundred for Durham,” he said.

“As in sport when you’re on the losing side it’s obviously not ideal. For me I was experiencing the highs of getting a century at halfway, but after losing I feel quite low and annoyed.

“I probably have not been as consistent before, particularly at Yorkshire. I’m a few years older now and I’ve played a lot more cricket. James Franklin and Marcus North have put a lot of trust in me, and have allowed me to play in the manner that I see fit.

“It’s good on a personal level, but if you’re not contributing to team wins then it’s not so satisfying. Against Lancashire it was a bit bittersweet, but I’m glad that I’m still in good form, but disappointed that we didn’t get the win.”

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Lees did not play in the One-Day Cup last season for Yorkshire before his move to Durham in August 2018.

It took a couple of innings for him to find his rhythm, failing against Northamptonshire and Leicestershire, before he was able to rediscover his peak form in the 50-over format.

He added: “I haven’t played a lot of one-day cricket over the last couple of years. For me it’s just about playing well and thinking in the right way at the crease. I always have the team at the forefront of my mind.

“The century against Lancashire came as a by-product of good thinking and preparation that’s gone in beforehand. I’m looking to grow and develop my game against the white ball, and hopefully I can continue my good form to ultimately qualify for the quarter-finals and win some more games for Durham.”

Next up for Durham in the One-Day Cup is trip to Grantham to face Nottinghamshire on the road.

Nottinghamshire have won five of their six matches in the competition, but Lees believes that the neutral venue will provide him and his team-mates a better opportunity to get back to winning ways.

Lees said: “They’ve been unbelievable at Trent Bridge so playing at an out ground might be an advantage. We have played some very good cricket so far in this competition. The Worcestershire game that we did lose, we were undone by the weather.

“Against Lancashire we weren’t quite as good as we have been. If we play somewhere near like we have been there’s no reason why we can’t beat Nottinghamshire.”

By Simon Sinclair courtesy of the ECB Reporters Network