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Dynamos in need of a power surge

Durham Dynamos, who begin their Twenty20 home campaign against Notts Outlaws tomorrow, face an uphill battle to qualify for the quarter-finals for the first time.

Durham Dynamos, who begin their Twenty20 home campaign against Notts Outlaws tomorrow, face an uphill battle to qualify for the quarter-finals for the first time.

After losing their opening game at Derbyshire by six wickets, Durham made a better fist of it away to holders Leicestershire Foxes yesterday.

But the Dynamos still missed out by three runs despite having five wickets in hand and now must beat Nottinghamshire at the Riverside to kick-start their group campaign.

Durham won the toss and elected to field first at Grace Road but were held up by an innings of 56 from Foxes captain Hylton Ackerman.

The South African had struck nine fours in his 40-ball innings when Durham captain Dale Benkenstein inadvertently deflected Jeremy Snape's drive on to the stumps at the non-striker's end.

Ackerman and Dinesh Mongia had earlier put on 52 in seven overs for the second wicket after the fit-again Graham Onions had removed Darren Maddy early on.

After Ackerman's dismissal, the Dynamos hit back to restrict Leicestershire to 13 runs off the last three overs.

Benkenstein finished with 2-17 from his four overs but strike bowler Liam Plunkett's one over went for 12.

Durham lost Nicky Peng for four when they replied but New Zealand international Nathan Astle finally threatened to produce the innings to match his pedigree.

The Kiwi struck eight boundaries in a knock of 37 before he was the third wicket to fall with the score on 54.

Astle drove left-arm spinner Claude Henderson straight to Maddy at cover as two wickets fell for one run.

Gordon Muchall again held the innings together with an unbeaten 38 from 30 balls that included just one six and one four.

Snape crucially claimed 3-24 from his four overs of spin and Durham required 16 runs from seamer Ottis Gibson's final over.

Muchall and Gareth Breese managed 13 as the Dynamos pulled up just short and they will now be looking for revenge when they entertain the Foxes on Friday.

Leicestershire 150-9 off 20 overs (Ackerman 56, Sadler 23, Benkenstein 2-17); Durham 147-5 off 20 overs (Muchall 38no, Astle 37, Snape 3-24).

Leicestershire (2pts) beat Durham (0pts) by three runs.

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