Report: Warwickshire v Durham, Royal London Cup

Warwickshire remain in contention for the Royal London Cup knockout stage after Dom Sibley’s third List A century lifted them to a 48-run win over Durham at Edgbaston.

Sibley’s composed 113 (124 balls), supported by Rob Yates (52, 73 balls), lifted the Bears to 275 for six against a Durham attack led by Oliver Gibson (three for 55). 

Graham Clark defied hard for 70 (102 balls) in reply but Durham were bowled out for 227 as Olly Hannon-Dalby took four for 39 and Liam Norwell two for 33.  

Warwickshire will now face Somerset at Edgbaston on Tuesday knowing that victory could secure them a top-three qualification spot.

Durham chose to bowl but did not help themselves by dropping Yates on ten and 11. The opener took advantage to pass fifty for the fourth time in this season’s Royal London Cup in an opening stand of 98 in 128 balls before he pulled Gibson to mid-wicket. 

Sibley found another two assertive partners in Will Rhodes (29, 38 balls) and Matt Lamb (28, 33) with whom he added 59 in 12 overs and 75 in 11 respectively. Rhodes was well-caught by substitute Luke Doneathy at mid on off George Drissell but Sibley chugged on to his hundred from 115 balls and hit 11 fours and two sixes before hoisting Gibson to long on. 

His departure signalled a Durham fightback and a clatter of three wickets for five runs in eight balls. Trevaskis struck twice in four balls as Lamb was caught at extra cover and Ethan Brookes edged a big turner to wicketkeeper Tomas Mackintosh.  

That left 17-year-old Kai Smith and 16-year-old Hamza Shaikh together at the crease and Smith provided the shot of the innings when he blasted Gibson over extra cover for six in a stand of 29 in 21 balls much appreciated by the good-sized crowd. 

Durham’s reply was hit early when Nic Maddinson sliced Hannon-Dalby to backward point. Clark dropped anchor but lost partners regularly. Scott Borthwick (27, 47 balls) chipped a return catch to Yates and Norwell struck twice in four balls. Sean Dickson gloved a pull to give 16-year-old wicketkeeper George Maddy a debut catch and Trevaskis was bowled through the gate. 

Clark and Paul Coughlin rebuilt with a stand of 49 in 51 balls before both fell to fine catches on the mid-wicket boundary, Shaikh and Yates continuing their good days with excellent takes right on the rope. 

That left Durham’s lower order needing to find 104 to find from 11 overs. Drissell (37, 23 balls) and Tomas Mackintosh biffed 44 in four but Hannon-Dalby returned with a consummate spell of death bowling. He removed Mackintosh and Mitchell Killeen in four balls and ended Drissell’s bold effort via a catch at point to seal victory.