Durham, bolstered by the presence of England all‑rounder Ben Stokes, delivered a dominant performance against Lancashire, cruising to a 162‑run victory that secured their place in the One‑Day Cup semi‑finals. The win was notable not only for the margin but also because young Lancashire star Rocky Flintoff could not echo the spectacular hundred he had produced earlier in the week. Flintoff, the 18‑year‑old son of former England great Andrew Flintoff, had stunned the competition just days before by smashing a rapid 100 off 65 balls in a group‑stage match against Somerset.
That innings marked his maiden senior professional ton and raised expectations that he might continue to dominate with the bat. However, when Lancashire faced Durham at the Emirates Old Trafford, the teenager was dismissed for a modest 22 runs off 39 deliveries.
His wicket was one of four claimed by Afghan leg‑spinner Shafiqullah Ghafari, who proved a constant threat throughout Lancashire’s innings. Ultimately, the visitors were bowled out for 187 while chasing a daunting target of 350.
Stokes, who captained England in the past, contributed with both ball and bat. With the ball, he claimed the wicket of opening batsman Harry Singh, who had managed only 11 runs, finishing with figures of 1 for 32 from his four overs. With the bat, Stokes added a quick cameo of 11 runs from nine balls, which included a six, as Durham compiled a formidable total of 349‑8 in Manchester. Durham’s innings was anchored by two substantial contributions.
David Bedingham played a commanding knock of 104 runs off 89 balls, while Ollie Robinson smashed 76 runs from just 57 deliveries. The two men built a fourth‑wicket partnership of 149 runs, a stand that set the platform for the victory. After Robinson’s dismissal, Stokes arrived at the crease and added his brief but impactful cameo before the innings concluded.
In Lancashire’s reply, the only notable resistance came from 17‑year‑old Joe Moores, who scored 51 runs off 42 balls. Moores had earlier shared a 59‑run partnership with Flintford, but after Flintford’s dismissal Lancashire’s batting collapsed dramatically. The team lost four wickets for just 17 runs, slipping to 142‑4, and Moores was the eighth wicket to fall as the side was bowled out in 36.1 overs. The day also featured other quarter‑final action.
In a separate match, the Notts Outlaws chased down 274 runs against Yorkshire, completing the chase with three wickets in hand and eight balls to spare in York. Their victory earned them a semi‑final berth against fellow Midlands side Leicestershire Foxes, scheduled for Sunday at the Uptonsteel Grace Road ground in Leicester. Key moments from the Notts‑Yorkshire encounter included early breakthroughs by Ben Coad (5‑52) and George Hill (1‑60), who removed Lancashire’s top order quickly. Despite the early setbacks, Kyle Verreynne (105 off 123) and Jack Haynes (116 not out off 99) rescued the innings with centuries of their own.
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. However, Verreynne’s dismissal in the 41st over, when the chase still required 65 runs, sparked a brief collapse that saw three wickets fall for just four runs, leaving Notts at 213‑7. Haynes, nevertheless, found solid support from No 9 bowler Dillon Pennington, who contributed an unbeaten 22 off 18 balls and had earlier taken 4‑49 with the ball, dismissing Yorkshire’s top scorer Will Bennison (91) in the process. Looking ahead, Durham will meet Middlesex in the semi‑final at the Brunton Memorial Ground in Radlett on Sunday.
The match is set to begin at 11 a.m. UK time, the same slot as the Leicestershire versus Notts Outlaws semi‑final.
Both fixtures promise high‑stakes cricket as the teams vie for a place in the final of the One‑Day Cup. In summary, Durham’s comprehensive win highlighted the depth of their batting line‑up, with Bedingham and Robinson delivering the bulk of the runs, while Stokes provided valuable contributions with both bat and ball. Lancashire’s hopes were dashed by a disciplined bowling attack and a faltering chase, despite the early promise shown by young Flintoff.
The tournament now moves into its penultimate stage, where the remaining teams will battle for the coveted trophy.