Durham Clinch 51-Run Victory Over Sussex in One-Day Cup

At the Roseworth Terrace in Gosforth, it was buzzing with excitement as Durham took on Sussex in a thrilling One-Day Cup Group B clash. Durham put up a hefty 310/7 in their 50 overs, thanks to a brilliant century from Ollie Robinson and a near-century from Will Rhodes. Sussex gave it their all chasing 311, but Durham’s bowlers, led by Rhodes’ heroics, held firm, bowling them out for 259 in 46.3 overs.

Durham’s Innings

Durham’s batting was a proper show of grit and flair. The innings kicked off with a real shock for Durham fans. Captain Alex Lees was out for a duck in the first over, nicking one from Fynn Hudson-Prentice straight to wicketkeeper Charlie Tear. Gone for 0 off 6 balls, Lees left Durham at 0/1. Sussex were buzzing, but Emilio Gay and Will Rhodes stepped up with a cracking 95-run partnership for the second wicket to get things back on track. Emilio Gay looked the part, scoring a tidy 34 off 38 balls with five crisp boundaries. He was picking gaps like it was nothing, keeping the scoreboard moving.

250 up in the 45th. 💪#ForTheNorth pic.twitter.com/7rWZrKvX88

— Durham Cricket (@DurhamCricket) August 5, 2025

But just when he seemed set, Jack Carson got him in the 17th over with a sharp caught-and-bowled. Gay’s exit at 95/2 brought Colin Ackermann to the crease, who chipped in with a steady 14 off 20 balls, including one four. Ackermann was playing it safe, but Danny Lamb got him in the 23rd over, bowling him to leave Durham at 123/3. Even with those wickets falling, Durham kept the runs coming, setting up for something big. Will Rhodes was the rock of Durham’s innings, playing a gem of a knock for 96 off 105 balls. He mixed caution with some proper attacking shots, smashing 13 fours and a massive six.

Rhodes kept things ticking over, finding gaps and punishing anything loose. He was the glue holding the innings together, and when Ollie Robinson joined him, the pair took the game by the scruff of the neck. Robinson played an absolute blinder, scoring 100 off 79 balls. His 13 fours and two sixes were a treat to watch, cover drives and lofted shots. The 78-run stand between Rhodes and Robinson for the fourth wicket was pure gold, taking Durham to 201 before Rhodes fell in the 36th over.

He was caught by Henry Crocombe off Archie Lenham’s bowling, just four runs shy of a century. Gutted for him, but what a knock. Robinson kept going, tearing into Sussex’s bowlers and keeping the crowd roaring. With Rhodes gone, Durham needed someone to keep the momentum going. Ben Raine came in and smashed a quick 6 off 6 balls, including a boundary, before Tom Haines caught him off Lamb’s bowling in the 37th over. At 208/5, Durham were in a decent spot but needed a final push. Haydon Mustard stepped up with a lively 36 off 35 balls, cracking five boundaries.

His 77-run partnership with Robinson for the sixth wicket was just what Durham needed, pushing them towards a huge total. Mustard fell in the 47th over, caught by Tom Clark off Aristides Karvelas, with the score at 285/6. Robinson got to his century, soaking up the cheers from the Roseworth Terrace crowd, but he was out in the 49th over, caught by Crocombe off Karvelas, leaving Durham at 301/7. The tail did their bit, with George Drissell (12 not out off 7 balls) and Mitchell Killeen (4 not out off 4 balls) adding some quick runs to get Durham to 310/7. A few extras like 3 wides, 2 byes, and 3 leg byes chipped in 8 runs. Durham’s batting depth was on full display, and that total was going to be a tough one for Sussex.

A solid showing with the bat at South Northumberland. 👊#ForTheNorth

— Durham Cricket (@DurhamCricket) August 5, 2025

Sussex’s bowlers came out firing, with Hudson-Prentice getting Lees first up, but they couldn’t keep a lid on things. Hudson-Prentice ended with 1/60 in 9 overs, showing how hard Durham made him work. Aristides Karvelas was the best of the bunch, taking 2/47 in 7 overs, getting rid of Gay and Robinson. Jack Carson (1/41) and Archie Lenham (1/37) kept things tight, with Lenham’s 10 overs going for less than 4 an over. Danny Lamb grabbed 2/64, nicking Ackermann and Raine, but Henry Crocombe’s 0/56 in 7 overs was pricey. Sussex let a few key partnerships slip, and Durham’s late charge made the difference.

Sussex’s Innings

Chasing 311 was always going to be a tall order, and Sussex needed their batsmen to fire. They put up a real fight, but Durham’s bowlers, with Will Rhodes leading the charge, were too good. Sussex finished on 259 in 46.3 overs, 51 runs short, despite a cracking effort from Danny Lamb. Sussex’s chase got off to a rough start when Danial Ibrahim was out for 2 in the third over, caught by Ollie Robinson off Codi Yusuf. At 9/1, they were already up against it. Tom Clark tried to fight back with a quick 19 off 22 balls, including four boundaries, but George Drissell got him in the 8th over, caught by Robinson again, leaving Sussex at 35/2.

TWO IN TWO for Rhodes & Lamb departs for 74. 👏#ForTheNorth pic.twitter.com/bTHFPINHvP

— Durham Cricket (@DurhamCricket) August 5, 2025

Charlie Tear, their keeper, couldn’t get going, scratching around for 9 off 25 balls before Mitchell Killeen had him caught by Yusuf in the 14th over. At 57/3, Sussex were in all sorts of bother. Tom Haines dug in, scoring 21 off 38 balls with two fours, but he was out in the 19th over, caught by Colin Ackermann off Killeen, leaving Sussex at 86/4. Those early wickets killed their momentum, and they needed something special to stay in the game. Fynn Hudson-Prentice and Oli Carter gave Sussex some hope with a 44-run stand for the fifth wicket.

Hudson-Prentice played a cracking knock, scoring 44 off 43 balls with five fours and two sixes, but he was run out by Codi Yusuf in the 28th over. At 130/5, things looked grim, but Oli Carter and Danny Lamb kept the fight alive with an 84-run partnership for the sixth wicket. Carter’s 38 off 56 balls, with two fours and a six, was gritty, while Lamb went on the attack. Lamb played a belter, smashing 74 off 57 balls with 11 fours and two sixes. He was picking gaps and clearing the ropes, keeping Sussex in the hunt. Their stand took Sussex to 214/6, and for a moment, it felt like they might pull off a miracle.

But Carter’s dismissal in the 38th over, caught by Robinson off Will Rhodes, started a collapse that Sussex couldn’t recover from. Will Rhodes, who’d already done the business with the bat, turned the game with his bowling. His 7.3 overs went for just 30 runs, and he picked up 5 wickets, absolutely ripping through Sussex. He got Carter, Jack Carson (4 off 13), Lamb, Archie Lenham (9 off 8), and Aristides Karvelas (5 off 7). Four of those were caught by Robinson, who was a machine behind the stumps.

Ollie Robinson and Will Rhodes impress on Durham List A debut as Durham kick off the One Day Cup with victory over Sussex. ⬇️#ForTheNorth

— Durham Cricket (@DurhamCricket) August 5, 2025

Lamb’s wicket in the 44th over was the killer blow, and Sussex went from 214/6 to 259 all out in 46.3 overs. Henry Crocombe was left not out on 1, but the game was done. Durham’s bowlers were on point from the start. Rhodes’ 5/30 was the standout, but Mitchell Killeen’s 2/30, getting Tear and Haines, set the tone. Codi Yusuf (1/51) and George Drissell (1/40) chipped in with big wickets, while Ben Raine’s 0/36 in 8 overs, with two maidens, kept things tight. James Minto didn’t take a wicket but bowled decently. The 33 extras, including 12 wides and 4 no-balls, were a bit sloppy, but Durham’s attack, with Robinson’s five catches, sealed a cracking 51-run win.

TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Game

The TCNI Magic Moment has to be Ollie Robinson’s stunning century. Coming in at 123/3, he took the game by storm, smashing 100 off 79 balls with 13 fours and two sixes. His strike rate of 126.58 was electric, and he made it look easy, driving through the covers, lofting over the infield, pure class.

Mustard 🤝 Robinson, 50 in 42 balls. 💨#ForTheNorth pic.twitter.com/cBdRNxFot3

— Durham Cricket (@DurhamCricket) August 5, 2025

His 78-run stand with Will Rhodes (96 off 105) turned the game after Lees’ early duck. Robinson’s knock pushed Durham to 310/7, and even when he fell in the 49th over to Karvelas (2/47), he’d done his job, setting a target that Sussex struggled to chase.

TCNI’s Hero of the Day

Will Rhodes is TCNI’s Hero of the Day, and no one can argue with that. His 96 off 105 balls, with 13 fours and a six, set Durham up for their big total. But his bowling was something else as 5/30 in 7.3 overs, with an economy of 4.00.

Rhodesy securing victory with a maiden List A five-fer!!! 🖐️🤩#ForTheNorth https://t.co/mLQO6N01za pic.twitter.com/USKC64XFmA

— Durham Cricket (@DurhamCricket) August 5, 2025

He got rid of Carter (38), Carson (4), Lamb (74), Lenham (9), and Karvelas (5), with Robinson catching four of them. His 25 dot balls and knack for breaking partnerships turned the game, as Sussex collapsed from 214/5 to 259 all out in 46.3 overs.