'Must win' game will test Durham
Source -
icnewcastle.co.uk
Durham's Twenty20 home campaign starts at the Riverside this evening and already the game has assumed `must-win' importance for the hosts.
Coach Martyn Moxon has told his batsmen to take their time against Lancashire tonight if they are to avoid a third straight defeat. Below-par batting was to blame for the defeats against Yorkshire and Nottingham as Durham mustered scores of 121-8 and 123 all out respectively.
"The batting has certainly been a huge disappointment so far," said former Yorkshire and England opener Moxon.
"We thought we had a plan but we haven't really put it into practice. It makes tonight's game a must-win game for us.
"We had a good start against Nottinghamshire - we were 48-0 after six overs - so there was no pressure on us to score at ten or 12 an over but we conspired to get ourselves out and lost four wickets in ten balls."
Despite his dissatisfaction, however, Moxon has ruled out sweeping changes. He said: "We don't feel we've got too many other options at the minute in terms of Twenty20 cricket. We've picked the squad thinking they're the best players for us in this competition.
"Now it's up to the players to work out where they've been going wrong. It's time for them to produce the goods. I believe if we put all the facets of our game together we've proved what a good one-day side we are. Obviously 50-over cricket gives you a bit more time to get yourself in but there's still that option in Twenty20."
Last year's finalists Lancashire claimed their first win in this season's competition last night when they beat Leicestershire by five wickets.
With a record 6,000 tickets sold in advance, supporters are being urged to leave plenty of time to arrive for the 6pm start.
T20, Twenty20 and Twenty20 Cup are registered trade marks of the England and Wales Cricket Board Limited (the “ECB”).
Products and services on this website are not offered in connection with, or with the endorsement of the ECB
