Durham, bolstered by the presence of England all‑rounder Ben Stokes, delivered a commanding performance against Lancashire, crushing the visitors by a margin of 162 runs and securing a place in the One Day Cup semi‑finals. The match, played at Emirates Old Trafford, also saw the young Lancashire prodigy Rocky Flintoff, son of former England star Andrew Flintoff, fail to echo the brilliance of his 65‑ball hundred earlier in the week.
Flintoff, only 18 years old, had announced his arrival on the senior circuit just days before when he smashed a rapid 100 against Somerset in the final group fixture. That innings, built from 65 deliveries, marked his maiden professional ton and raised expectations that he might be a game‑changer for Lancashire once more. However, against a disciplined Durham side, the teenage batsman managed just 22 runs from 39 balls before being dismissed.
His wicket was one of four claimed by Afghan leg‑spinner Shafiqullah Ghafari, whose variations proved too much for the Lancashire batting line‑up, which collapsed to 187 all out while chasing a daunting target of 350. Stokes, who captained England in the past, contributed with both ball and bat.
He claimed the wicket of opening batsman Harry Singh for a modest 11, finishing his spell with figures of 1 for 32 in four overs. With the bat, Stokes added a quick cameo of 11 runs from nine balls, including a six, as Durham posted a formidable 349‑8 in Manchester. His contribution helped set the tone for a massive total that left Lancashire with an uphill battle. The Durham innings was anchored by a spectacular partnership between David Bedingham and Ollie Robinson.
Bedingham, playing with a blend of aggression and composure, hammered a brilliant 104 runs off just 89 deliveries. His innings was highlighted by a series of boundaries that kept the scoreboard ticking.
Partnering him was Ollie Robinson, who smashed 76 runs from only 57 balls, displaying a powerful stroke‑play that kept the run rate soaring. Together, they forged a fourth‑wicket stand of 149 runs, a partnership that effectively put the game beyond Lancashire’s reach.
After Robinson’s dismissal, Stokes stepped in to continue the momentum. Lancashire’s chase began poorly, losing four wickets for just 17 runs and slipping to 142‑4. The early loss of Flintoff, who had been dismissed for 22, further destabilised the innings. The only notable resistance came from 17‑year‑old Joe Moores, who scored a brisk 51 off 42 balls and shared a 59‑run partnership with Flintoff before the latter fell.
Moores’ effort, while spirited, was insufficient to revive Lancashire’s innings, and the team was bowled out in 36.1 overs. The victory propels Durham into a semi‑final clash with Middlesex, scheduled to take place at the Brunton Memorial Ground in Radlett on Sunday. Meanwhile, the other quarter‑final saw Nottinghamshire Outlaws recover from a precarious 1‑3 start to chase down 274 runs against Yorkshire, sealing the win by three wickets with eight balls remaining. Their success earns them a semi‑final berth against Leicestershire Foxes, another Midlands side, on the same day.
In the Nottinghamshire‑Yorkshire encounter, the Outlaws were initially rattled by early wickets taken by Ben Coad (5‑52) and George Hill (1‑60), which removed key batsmen Ben Martindale, Freddie McCann, and captain Haseeb Hameed. However, the innings turned around dramatically when Kyle Verreynne struck 105 off 123 balls and Jack Haynes smashed an unbeaten 116 off just 99 deliveries. Verreynne’s partnership with George Munsey added 54 runs for the fourth wicket, and he later combined with Haynes for a massive 154‑run stand. Although Verreynne was dismissed in the 41st over when the required runs were 65, Nottinghamshire weathered a mini‑collapse, losing three wickets for four runs, before Olly Stone and Farhan Ahmed fell to Coad’s penultimate spell.
The team eventually reached 273‑9, with Haynes receiving solid support from No 9 bowler Dillon Pennington, who contributed a quick‑fire 22 not out off 18 balls and had earlier taken 4‑49 with the ball, dismissing Yorkshire’s top‑scorer Will Bennison (91). Overall, the day’s cricket showcased a blend of youthful exuberance, experienced leadership, and dramatic turnarounds. Durham’s dominant display, underpinned by Stokes’s all‑round brilliance and the massive contributions of Bedingham and Robinson, set them firmly on a path toward a potential cup final. Meanwhile, the Outlaws demonstrated resilience and firepower to overcome early setbacks, highlighting the unpredictable excitement that defines knockout cricket.
The upcoming semi‑finals promise further high‑stakes action as the remaining teams vie for a coveted spot in the One Day Cup final.