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Page last updated at 11:23 GMT, Monday, 20 April 2009 12:23 UK

Captain Smith rues Durham defeat

Will Smith
Smith was leading Durham for the first time in a competitive fixture

New Durham captain Will Smith has admitted his disappointment at beginning his stint in charge with Sunday's one-day defeat by Yorkshire.

Durham were bowled out for 188 in 41 overs after being set a target of 269 in the first game since Smith took over from all-rounder Dale Benkenstein.

"We wanted to get off to a good start and to lose at home to Yorkshire is not great," Smith told BBC Newcastle.

"It's a long season and we've got to stay positive and put things right."

Smith, 26, took charge of the side for the MCC game at Lords and during the South Africa tour, although Sunday's match was his first competitive game as skipper.

Yorkshire amassed an impressive total in a mixed spell of bowling for Durham, with South African batsman Jaques Rudolph hitting an unbeaten 73.

And Smith conceded that some loose deliveries, coupled with an uncertain batting display contributed to the defeat.

"We were bowled out for 41 overs, which is a cardinal sin in 50-over cricket," he said.

"We did things wrong with the ball, and did things wrong with the bat and made mistakes.

"I think with powerplays we think about them too much instead of just playing 50 overs, concentrating on a competitive game of 50 over cricket."

Both sides meet again in Wednesday's County Championship encounter at the Riverside.



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see also
Durham v Yorkshire
20 Apr 09 |  Counties
Vaughan fails to press Test claim
19 Apr 09 |  Counties
County season preview 2009
14 Apr 09 |  Counties
Smith confident as Durham captain
14 Nov 08 |  Durham
Benkenstein stands down as skipper
29 Sep 08 |  Durham


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