By Jon Steer
May 6 2005

Disappointment hit the Durham team for the first time this season as they lost to Derbyshire in the first round of the C&G trophy. Derbyshire needed 13 from the final over and reached it with a four from the final ball. Earlier Paul Collingwood had starred for Durham with 82 from 86 balls. The match was a rain affected affair but unlike the two previous one day games which had been unable to reach a result, the C&G competition allows for a reserve day which enabled the match to be played out in full.

Durham posted a score of 234 from their 50 overs with Paul Collingwood playing an almost chanceless innings to reach 82 from just 86 balls. But when he was out, Durham failed to capitalise on the position he had created which left their total looking a little vulnerable.

A solid bowling performance was always going to be essential if Durham were to have a chance of preventing Derbyshire from overhauling thier total. Durham star of the Sussex game - Michael Lewis opened the bowling alongside Neil Killeen and it was Killeen who made the first breakthrough removing Moss for 26. With the day drawing to a close Steve Harmison w3as then given his chance to bowl and struck twice to remove Australian Di Venuto and Hassan Adnan. Gareth Breese and Paul Collingwood also took a wicket each as Derbyshire finished the day on 132-5.

Derbyshire started thursday in an attacking manner with 15 off the first over bowled by Neil Killeen. Chris Basssano and Graeme Welch propelled Derbyshire within site of the target with each reaching half centuries. The return of Harmison saw a few cheap overs go by and with Killeen taking two further wickets it left Derbyshire needing 13 from the final over with one wicket in hand.

Ant Botha hit the first ball for four and then took three from the next two balls putting number 11 Kevin Dean on strike. Dean managed to turn the next ball to fine leg for four and then scramble a single from the fifth ball to leave Botha needing just a single from the final Steve Harmison ball. With all the fielders crowding the batsman Botha managed to push the ball through the ring and behind square for the winning runs.

Critics will point to the slow scoring in the first half of Durham's innings and the semi-collapse at death which probably left them 25 runs short of a really challenging total. Also Michael Lewis failed to retain his impressive form of previous matches and proved expensive. Dale Benkenstein was not used, despite Collingwood proving fairly economical in his 10 overs.

Positive points for Durham will be Colly's batting and Harmison and to some extent Breese's bowling.

Durham are back to championship action against Somerset at Stockton on friday as they look to make the most of having England players Steve Harmison and Paul COllingwood available.