Mustard too hot for woeful Worcs

PRO40 DIVISION ONE, Riverside:
Durham 274-4 beat Worcestershire 129 by 145 runs (Durham 2pts)
Thursday, 6 August 2009

Match scorecard

Phil Mustard's run-a-ball 92 maintained woeful Worcestershire's poor run as he propelled Durham to a 145-run victory under the Riverside floodlights.

Mustard shared partnerships of 71 with opening partner Ian Blackwell (36) and 69 with Ben Harmison (30).

And former skipper Dale Benkenstein then carried it on with an unbeaten 51 out of Durham's 274-4.

But the visitors were never in it, suffering their biggest one-day defeat when chasing, bowled out for 129.

After one win and a rain-off, this 145-run humiliation was actually 2007 winners Worcestershire's first Pro40 defeat.

And their confidence-sapped side, weakened by injury, loss of form and the imminent departure of at least to key players, were further stymied by a heel injury early on to main strike bowler Matt Mason, which limited him to just three overs.

It was a limping Mason's run-out that finished things off after Durham's spinners had sent the visitors tumbling from 61-2 to 129 all out.

But, in truth, defeat was always on the cards when Durham blasted Worcestershire's second-string attack to all parts, in running up their highest-ever total at the Riverside.

Division One backmarkers Worcestershire now have a much-needed four-day break before they resume duties at Hove on Tuesday when they start a four-day County Championship game against Sussex.

Championship leaders Durham are also back in action that day with a key trip to title outsiders Lancashire.

Worcestershire director of cricket Steve Rhodes told BBC Hereford and Worcester:

"We took a drubbing there. And, like I said to the players, I've been on the end of a few drubbings in my career, but you try and reduce them and learn from them.

"But I also said to them we have to keep our heads up high because I reminded them now that the new target is five wins.

"We have five more games in this competition and, if we play like that, we are not going to win games of cricket.

"But the plan is to win five games and, if we do, then we will be a long way towards the top of this table and winning a trophy."