D'Arcy Short makes short work of Leicestershire in dominant win

An onslaught from D'Arcy Short guided Durham to a dominant eight-wicket victory over Leicestershire Foxes in their Vitality Blast North Group clash at Emirates Riverside.

Short was relentless in his innings, blasting the Foxes bowlers to all parts of the ground before he fell for a brilliant knock of 70. He and Graham Clark refused to let the visitors settle in their opening stand of 118. It allowed the home side ease over the line and record their third win in five games in the competition.

Colin Ackermann had earlier made a half-century for the Foxes, but his side struggled to time the ball and their total of 142 for 7 was never going to be enough once Short found his stride. Leicestershire slumped to their fourth defeat in the Blast and will require a special effort in their remaining matches to have any hope of reaching the knockout stages.

The Foxes made a bright start to their innings and were able to put the Durham seamers on the back foot. Harry Swindells displayed aggression in the powerplay, finding the boundary four times as well as dispatching Brydon Carse over the rope. Swindells was looking well set at the crease, but was run out on 29 by Peter Handscomb after setting off slowly for a single.

Leicestershire began to get bogged down by the accuracy of Short and Liam Trevaskis' left-arm spin. Mark Cosgrove attempted to pull Short to the boundary, but was caught short of the fence by Handscomb. Arron Lilly then became Short's second victim, mis-timing a strike to the legside and was snagged by Jack Burnham for only 10. The collapse continued when Trevaskis bowled Lewis Hill on the charge to leave the visitors with work ahead them four down for 74 at the halfway stage.

Ackermann provided much needed impetus to the Leicestershire innings, sweeping Short to the fence for back-to-back boundaries in the Aussie's final over. Durham continued to make inroads when Harry Dearden chipped a Carse delivery to Graham Clark, who took a good catch over his shoulder.

The Foxes skipper kept his side on course for a decent total, reaching his half-century from 39 deliveries. However, Ackermann fell in the final over to Matty Potts off a blinding catch from Handscomb diving to his left in the deep. The wicket prevented Leicestershire reaching the 150-run mark, posting a total of 142 from their 20 overs.

Durham's reply began with a solid start from Short and Clark, with the latter being dropped on six by Lilley at deep backward square leg. Short then took the lead in the partnership, freeing his arms by blasting Will Davis over the top for the first six of the innings.

The Aussie upped the ante, dispatching Gavin Griffiths for four consecutive boundaries to push the run rate beyond 11 runs per over. Short reached his half-century from 26 deliveries, with his tenth boundary of the innings, leaving Durham in a dominant position at the end of the powerplay.

Clark maintained the pressure on the Leicestershire bowlers, supporting his partner at the other end, with a six of his own over the head of Davis into the stand. Short fell going for big strike to many, missing a straight delivery from Callum Parkinson. Clark kept the momentum going and scored his first Blast fifty of the term. Although Ben Raine was dismissed cheaply, Durham cantered over the line with 32 balls remaining.