Match times, streaming information, tickets and travel, team news, weather forecast, form, prediction and everything else you need to know ahead of the latest round of the Vitality Blast...
Fixture: Durham v Yorkshire Vikings
Venue: Emirates Riverside, Chester-le-Street
Date: Friday, June 11, 2021
Start time: 6.30pm
What’s the lowdown?
Chester-le-Street plays host to a Yorkshire side studded with international stars.
It’s a rare thing these days that Ben Stokes is available for Durham, but with a happy accident of timing (and injury) the northern outfit will be able to call upon the services of the world’s most prominent allrounder from next week.
This meeting comes a slice too soon, with the 30-year-old still recovering from surgery on his right index finger, but there is still plenty to set the pulses racing in an exciting Durham side. Matty Potts and Brydon Carse are two of the more exciting young quicks on the circuit and in South African David Bedingham they possess county cricket’s form batter.
The Vikings made light work of a target of 145 against Birmingham on Thursday night to win by six wickets with nine balls to spare. The presence of England trio Jonny Bairstow, who last night played his first T20 for Yorkshire since 2016, Adil Rashid and Dawid Malan gives an outfit which already boasts the considerable talents of Adam Lyth, Tom Kohler-Cadmore and David Willey world-class pedigree.
Add in the pace of New Zealand international Lockie Ferguson and in their opener Yorkshire looked a unit that will be in the mix for Finals Day.
Who’s in form?
Potts was Durham’s leading seamer in 2020’s Blast with 13 wickets from his ten matches.
He comes into this fixture off the back of a superb performance in the Championship against Yorkshire, registering match figures of 8 for 98. With no Alex Lees (who topped his side's Blast run-scoring charts last term and is out of with a broken hand) Durham will be hoping that the Championship’s leading run-scorer, Bedingham, can translate that form into the T20s.
For all the hype around Yorkshire’s array of internationals it was 24-year-old allrounder Jordan Thompson who was the standout in the Vikings’ opener. The seamer’s 3 for 23 was enough to keep the Bears’ total well below par and he was a constant menace as a boundary-rider. With the bat, Bairstow and Malan combined for a second-wicket stand of 58 in 34 balls and looked in some touch without needing to reach top gear.
What’s the team news?
Graham Clark is included in the Durham squad for the first time this summer, while left-arm seamer Jack Campbell, who is yet to make an appearance in white ball cricket for Durham, is also in the 14-man group.
Ben Stokes is not available, while Alex Lees will miss the entire season with a broken hand.
Durham squad: Cameron Bancroft, David Bedingham, Scott Borthwick, Jack Burnham, Brydon Carse, Jack Campbell, Graham Clark, Paul Coughlin, Sean Dickson, Ned Eckersley, Matthew Potts, Ben Raine, Matt Salisbury, Liam Trevaskis
Yorkshire's squad is unchanged following their opening-day win.
Yorkshire squad: Jonny Bairstow, Harry Brook, Lockie Ferguson, Will Fraine, George Hill, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Adam Lyth, Dawid Malan, Duanne Olivier, Adil Rashid, Jack Shutt, Jordan Thompson, Matthew Waite, David Willey
Last five T20 results (most recent first)
Durham: LWWWW
Yorkshire Vikings: WWLLL
Head-to-head T20 record
Total matches: 34
Durham wins: 14
Yorkshire Vikings wins: 18
Tied: 1
Abandoned: 4
No result: 1
What’s the weather forecast?
Keep up to date with the MetOffice’s rolling forecast for Chester-le-Street: Click here
Going to the game?
Tickets
This game is sold out.
Click here to access the Durham box office.
Travel
Address: Durham County Cricket Club, Emirates Riverside, Chester-le-Street, County Durham, DH3 3QR
By car: The ground is situated a mile outside Chester-le-Street. There are two car parks at the ground.
The Emirates Riverside has a designated drop-off and pick-up point for all cars and taxis.
A road closure may be in place on B1284 Rotary Way immediately after play finishes. The club say it is advisable for vehicles to be at the pick-up point approximately 15 minutes before close of play. All vehicles must turn left when exiting from the pick-up point.
Details regarding road closures for major events will be made available on the Durham CCC website two to three weeks prior to the event taking place.
By public transport: Chester-le-Street rail station is served by Northern Rail, CrossCountry & First TransPennine trains. The station is a 20-minute walk from the ground. East Coast services stop at both Durham and Newcastle instead.
There is a shuttle bus service available from Durham Station to and from Emirates Riverside.
Several buses beginning their journeys in Newcastle stop near the Riverside.
How do I follow the match?
Durham will offer live coverage of the match via their website: Click here
All T20 Blast matches are also available via the ECB's central hub: Click here
The matches can also be viewed on mobile via the ECB app.
Radio: All Vitality Blast fixtures will be available on BBC Local Radio stations with extensive coverage also on 5 Live Sports Extra.
Digital: The Cricketer will carry live scorecards and updates from every Vitality Blast match in 2021, as well as the latest breaking news from around the counties and exclusive features. Visit our County Hub for more.
Prediction?
Yorkshire look like a seriously impressive T20 side this year. Expect them to lay down another marker here.
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