The Metro Bank One-Day Cup has been a bit of a sleeper hit this summer. Words such as “devalued” and “second tier” have followed the tournament since the dawn of the Hundred in 2021 but there has been a quiet resurgence of late.
The prolonged dry spell has provided certainty and pleasant conditions. But the big one has been the Hundred’s tractor beam slightly easing. Essentially, the full availability of England players – plus one extra overseas spot per franchise – has lessened the strain on county 50-over squads and upped their quality a touch.
And though just one man, the presence of Ben Stokes in Durham’s ranks has also played a small part. Wherever Durham travel, supporters have been able to watch a bona fide England great in the flesh; close enough to read the tattoos or catch a whiff of expensive cologne as he prowls the boundary rope between spells.
This was not by design, of course, rather an unexpected bonus after Stokes pulled the pin on his England career back in June. Having not registered for the Hundred auction, the all-rounder could not slip into the tournament as a late addition. Whether Stokes would have, given his rekindled love for Durham, is uncertain.
Stokes was at New Road on Tuesday, where his side were looking to lock down their place in the knockout phase, and the defending champions Worcestershire needed a big win to boost their net run-rate and pip them to third in Group B. Jake Libby, the home captain, was also eyeing his fifth List A century to equal the world record.
Libby fell for 46 – the domestic record of four in a row will have to suffice – but his team still squeezed out the win. Problem was, it wasn’t quite big enough, having posted 291 and then needed to keep the visitors under 205. Durham, 214 all out in 38.5 overs after stumbling to 199 for nine, progress to the quarter-finals.
Still, for all the local disappointment, or the relief in the away dressing room after Hampshire lost a nail-biter at Derbyshire, this was still a pretty life-affirming day all the same. A crowd of about 3,000 may not jump off the page but it was engaged, buzzed throughout, and stayed to applaud the players as they left the field.
New Road was pretty much bliss in the sunshine, even if at one stage, when the hosts slipped to 162 for six in the 32nd over, it looked like a damp squib might unfold. Step forward Tom Taylor, blazing a career-best 86 from No 7 – eight fours, three sixes – to give his fellow bowlers plenty more to work with in the defence.
Save for Ben McKinney, back from Southern Brave and cracking 82 from opener, Durham slightly froze in the chase. Stokes came and went for one, bowled off an inside edge by Taylor to induce his latest rueful look at the pitch. But in the end, as the game within a game got tight, Durham’s lower order just did enough.
Contrary to some perceptions about the county game and the Hundred’s supposedly more family-friendly vibe, this was a mixed crowd of all ages. The hospitality tent was packed with a “Ladies Day” charity fundraiser, while gaggles of enthusiastic youngsters hunted autographs throughout.
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The most in-demand signature was that of Stokes, naturally, but pretty much anyone in full kit was being pestered for a scribble or a selfie. A portion of the membership would sooner the County Championship was being played in high summer but 50-over cricket does offer a full range for folks to enjoy.
And for any chuntering about the Hundred and its (undeniable) broader impact, the money from last year’s sale has helped a county like Worcestershire. While the problem of the annual floods at New Road needs a long-term solution, the club has managed to wipe out circa £4m in debt over the past year.
“It has given us a chance to breathe,” says Ashley Giles, the chief executive. “There are fewer sleepless nights than before. Although we still have to be smart and in some ways it ramps up the pressure on us a bit, as there are no more excuses.”
There weren’t that many previously, to be fair, with resourcefulness underpinning Worcestershire’s triumph in this competition last year. Going by the efforts to keep their title defence alive, thwarted though they were, it is still there in abundance.