Durham pulled off a thrilling seven-run victory over Kent Spitfires in the Metro Bank Cup on Sunday, keeping their hopes of reaching the knockout stages alive.
After winning the toss and electing to bowl, Durham witnessed a superb century from Ben McKinney (115 off 116 balls) that propelled them to a competitive total of 307. McKinney’s knock was studded with three sixes and 13 fours, while Bas de Leede (47) provided valuable support.
Kent’s chase got off to a promising start as Harry Finch (104 off 91 balls) and Jack Leaning (81) stitched together a 183-run partnership for the third wicket. However, the Spitfires suffered a dramatic collapse, losing six wickets for 71 runs.
George Drissell emerged as the hero for Durham, claiming 4 for 38. His crucial wickets included Finch, Leaning, and Grant Stewart (3). Colin Ackermann (3-36) also played a key role in restricting Kent’s scoring.
In the final over, Kent needed 17 runs to win. Ackermann defended the target admirably, conceding only 10 runs and securing a memorable victory for Durham.
The result leaves Durham in contention for the knockout stages, while Kent’s hopes of progressing have been dashed.
